1. Livewire Warrington Inter-generational Group

2. Setting up the group
Why?
We had already run a successful session with the Memories Group (Local History) and the young people which culminated in a vintage style party and we wanted to build on that.
We felt that both young and old could acquire new skills and new understanding, so better for social cohesion
We felt there would be mental health benefits for both groups
The project would tie-in to the Universal Offers and our more local plans.

3. Setting up the group
How?
Linking members of our Reading Hackers, Memories Group and library craft groups, building on strong contacts we already have.
Asking each group what they would like to get out of meeting
Setting a timetable for meeting – currently once a month
Planning an initial session which ensured they would have to talk to each other in an informal way

4. Mental Health Awareness
How do you survive without a phone?
We launched the group in mental health awareness week on 17th May 2016 at Padgate Library and we launched our Shelf Help collection at the library on the same day.
The group started off talking about what they did in their daily life, and with steer from staff, this turned into a discussion on pressures of daily life.
One older member shared that she was prone to depression and how she tried to counter that.
Their issues differed –the main one for young people was the pressure to fit in and for older people dealing with loneliness.
They also had lots in common and agreed on, among other things, the Eurovision Song Contest and Brexit! (all wanted to remain in Europe)
Aren’t they lovely?

5. Knitting and Nattering
All the young people decided they would like to try knitting.
Results were mixed with some being surprisingly good to one giving up when she had massive holes in the item she was trying to make!
Everyone had a good laugh though, and they all went home with a new woolly hat even if some of them had been made by another person.
They also got a chance to talk about life skills as the young people wanted to know about financial matters like mortgages and how to open an account – having a common task is a great way to enable people to talk to each other.

6. Attaching photos to an e-mail what one of the successful tasks.
Technology
Shall I set you up on Call of Duty?
Older person – ‘What’s that?
Staff member – ‘No’
Time for the young people to take the lead, and the older group requested a session on technology
Attaching photos to an what one of the successful tasks.
The young people also gave ideas on how to make full use of an ipad, smart phone or a laptop.
Unfortunately the wi-fi was flaky on the day which gave the older people plenty to talk about re you can’t rely on computers for everything.! Maybe they will set up Skype another time.

7. Music and Mayhem
Can you teach me how to dance for my prom?
The one week they didn’t agree – on the whole they did not appreciate each other’s taste in music!
One of the older ladies brought along her banjo so they all had a sing-a-long to traditional tunes.
You can’t dance to that!
Dancing was good years ago because you got to hold your partner close

8. Book Sculpture
We wanted to try book sculpture because, as a creative remedy, it is proven to reduce stress
Jean came along to show the young people how to make a hedgehog from old, discarded library books
Really successful and really enhanced concentration – the younger people do not all always want to sit still for any length of time.
Planning to make book sculpture Christmas trees later in the year.

9. Future Plans
Engaging with more men. It has tended to be the ladies who have come to the group
Engaging community groups we don’t currently have contact with to expand the offer and get new people into libraries

10. Hints and Tips Do
Make the first session very informal, but the subject something they all have an opinion on (Donald Trump gave us plenty to discuss)
Let them sit where they want. We found they naturally ‘took up positions’ in the first session but by the end they were sitting together without noticing
Give refreshments
Ask them what they want to do and always deliver if you promise something
Enjoy it!

11. Hints and Tips
Be Aware
Staff member is always required to keep the session going if necessary and stop any inappropriate language/behaviour.
Young people are loud – please remind your older people about this as they will not have been in contact with teens en masse!
Older people need respect and courtesy. Young people will probably not need to be told this, but be aware as language and behaviour can be very different in the two groups.
Don’t meet up too often as both groups will have other things they want to do. We started off meeting every 2 weeks and that was too much. Once a month is perfect for us

12. Contact
Please get in touch if you need more information
Chris Everett – Senior Livewire Advisor for Reading