Transcript Jane Charlton, Rosemary Hurtley CRANLEIGH

Jane Charlton,
Rosemary Hurtley
CRANLEIGH INTERGENERATIONAL
PROJECT 2010
How it started
 Cranleigh Initiative & Healthcheck
 Concerns about public behaviour and link with
perceptions of safety and wellbeing
 Lack of understanding - culture of anxiety and rapid
change - fear of crime, breakdown of communication
 Health agenda - preparing the community for an
increasing ageing population and increase in the ‘oldold’ in rural areas
Problems identified
 Large groups/rowdy behaviour
 Inconsiderate/antisocial behaviour; e.g. on some bus
routes (53), drinking in public areas, vandalism
 Lack of consideration/awareness of behaviour on
others
 Ageing population
 Intergenerational misunderstanding
 Young people not feeling respected
 Older people not feeling respected
A Framework
Putting consideration and civility into public life across
the generations through improved communication
and mutual understanding – The Intergenerational
Project with Jane Charlton
Helping to improve the experience of public places in
the village, engendering feelings of safety and
wellbeing at all times, day and night, by all Cranleigh
residents – making for a stronger community
Cranleigh
 Market town
 Population 12,000
 Technically the largest
village in England, but with
the size and facilities of a
town
Recommendations
 Whole community involvement – age friendly
community positive citizenship project
 Cranleigh code - for personal adoption, similar to the
highway/country code
 Address aspects that restrict quality of life
 Increase links between community and schools
 Link older and younger residents in a variety of ways;
e.g. history, citizenship, learning, community work,
visits emphasising intergenerational communication
Intergenerational project aims
 To develop greater intergenerational respect and
dignity (so the young and old respect each other)
 To advance young people’s life skills and capacities (via
recreational and leisure time activities and with some
links to school work to promote intergenerational
relationships)
 To help older people and those with frailty have
contact with young people, thereby improving their
wellbeing and overall quality of life
Tapestry of Activity
 Communication/reminiscence & learning
Examples:
Local Primary School/Senior Link – annual event
Memory book – Nursing Home and Catholic Primary
School
Birthday cards, World Cup memories, place matsCranleigh C of E Primary and Day Centre
Remembrance Day Oral History Project with Arts Centre
and Yr 8/9 pupils
Tapestry of Activity
 Relationship building: various ‘contact’ events; e.g.
Cranleigh Youth Group and U3A with Arts Centre
events - Wii bowling and reciprocal meals, visits to
care centres, volunteering
 Music events and contact: Park Mead, Cranleigh
School, (Glebelands) concerts
 Schools resource pack: information on ageing,
reminiscence and disability/sensory awareness
activities
Tapestry of Activity - Ideas
 Joint living history - care home and school – World
War II projects involving series of workshops and arts
events with school and artists: Poetry and speech and
drama activity linked to curriculum – celebrating local
culture, intergenerational interaction, creativity
 ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ 15 minute ‘show cases’
 Object handling - ‘transitional objects’ of public and
personal significance
 Care home and local Alzheimer’s project remembrance
programme, exhibition
‘I really enjoyed talking with the older people’
‘I really enjoy their sense of humour’
‘I like to help the older people when playing curling’
Benefits for young people
 Communication skills - ability to engage
empathetically with a frail older person
 Learning different perspectives
 Being respected and valued
 Confidence building
 Other, e.g. opportunities for young people to report
stories for the local press, positive profiles of young
people, volunteering skills
 Reminiscence sessions - hearing about the past
(perhaps linked to history/citizenship/Focus Days)
Benefits for older people
 Communication with young people
 Learning perspectives of young people
 Being listened to and sharing past histories
 Being respected and valued
 Diversion from the ‘normal routine’ - reduced possible
isolation
Research reveals that misconceptions about age, ageing
and stereotypes are developed before the age of 8 years
Benefits to all
 Improved intergenerational awareness and respect
 Improved contact between young and old for a
stronger community fabric
 Building social capital
 Improved relationships and mutual understanding
Benefits to all (continued)
 Shared learning addresses stereotyping
 Younger people learning about change, ageing and
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disability
New skills in communication (young and old)
Stronger community across generations
Less isolation
Exploring new skills and celebrating achievement
Seeing older people as a community resource
Seeing younger people as a community resource
Fun
Those involved so far….
 Local schools: Park Mead, Cranleigh C of E Primary,
St. Cuthbert Mayne, Glebelands, Cranleigh School and
Farlington School, Cranfold Confederation
 Wider Community: Cranleigh Youth Club and SCC
youth workers, Cranleigh Arts Centre, U3A, Rowleys
Day Centre, Knowle Park Nursing Home, Cedar Court,
Birtley House, Cranleigh Baptist Church, Age Concern
and Cranleigh Initiative
and contact with many others ..
What you need to do it
 Cause
 Connections
 Creativity
 Character – make a difference
 Catalyst
 Collaboration
Funding
 Surrey County Council (£1,000)
 Lions (£900)
 Rotary Club (£500)
 Cedar Court, Care Home (£250)
 Parish Council
Cranleigh Youth Centre ‘Enabler’ (pivotal role)
Hold funding (£2,900)
Where next?
 Consolidate projects – internal leaders/coordinators to enable success
 Project coordination - volunteers and project coordinators and competition judges welcome
 Maintain momentum after September
 Legacy - ongoing stronger community
Thank you
 Our funders
 Our enabler (Cranleigh Youth Centre)
 Our supporters (schools and care homes)
 Our older and our younger participants
For more information: [email protected] or [email protected]