1 st february 2011generations together - reading legacy event for generations together / inspiring...
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1st February 2011 Generations Together - Reading
Legacy Event for Generations Together / Inspiring Communities
1st February 2011Eland House, London
Lorna Stanley
Andrew Haydon
1st February 2011 Generations Together - Reading
• A series of 20 community group and schools-led projects.
• Culminating in Festival of Ages 2010.• Involving 1,300 volunteers - 650 older, 650
younger.• Benefiting a further 1,000 recipients and wider
participants.• Targeting the most deprived areas within
Reading.• Delivery managed by Age UK Berkshire &
Central Berkshire Education Business Partnership, reporting quarterly to our Local Authority.
Project Aims & Set-Up
1st February 2011 Generations Together - Reading
Primary Desired Outcomes
• Improved perception of young people by older people.
• Improved perception of older people by young people.
• Increased ability to make a positive contribution to the life of the community.
• Increased involvement of educational institutions in the local community.
1st February 2011 Generations Together - Reading
Achievements• Delivery of 22 projects, working with
volunteers from all areas of Reading. • Recruited 1,357 volunteers.• Benefited a further 1,406 wider
participants and 372 recipients.• Festival of Ages 2010.• Evidence of success achieving all our
desired outcomes through our local evaluation.
1st February 2011 Generations Together - Reading
Biggest Challenges• Enabling community groups & schools to
understand intergenerational work.• Consent from parents for under 16s to
participate in national evaluation.• Gathering sufficient evidence from participants.• Changes in safeguarding legislation.• Older Volunteer Recruitment:
– Hard to reach groups– Males– Autumn/winter projects
1st February 2011 Generations Together - Reading
Lessons Learnt (1)• Level of success dependent on lead community
group’s or school’s capability, willingness to learn, responsiveness to feedback and flexibility.
• Role of project management team & partnership working are vital in ensuring the activities stay on track.
• Developing a strong brand creates a visual identity, which aids PR and publicity. Budget for marketing and communications is important.
• Approaches to safeguarding need to be proportional to the level of risk posed.
1st February 2011 Generations Together - Reading
Lessons Learnt (2)• Older volunteer recruitment benefits from using
multiple methods e.g. visiting groups, pooling existing resources like databases, networking.
• Evening and outdoor projects work best if started between March & October, when older people feel more confident leaving the house.
• People are happy to give feedback face-to-face, but can feel overwhelmed by forms and are suspicious of phone calls.
• Some of the best and most effective projects cost the least amount of money!
1st February 2011 Generations Together - Reading
Festival of Ages 2010
• Gala Day celebrations – showcasing some of our projects’ achievements.
• Let’s Sing – 250 people of all ages turning up to have a sing-song (in spite of torrential rain!)
• A selection of the Week’s Events:– Fit as a Fiddle Allotment Project– New Town Primary – Poetry & Music– Broad Street Mall Open Day– Ranikhet Primary – Tai Chi & Lunch– Blessed Hugh – Tea & Performances & Choir
1st February 2011 Generations Together - Reading
Festival Challenges• Buy in from community groups, no contractual
obligation to participate in festival for:• Performances at the festival (Stage fright!)• Activities for the week
• Time of year – October was not ideal, July would have been better.– Ability to use (cheaper) outdoor venues.– Many schools project reached a natural conclusion at
the end of July.– Easier to tempt older people outdoors when the
weather is warmer and evenings are longer.• Celebrity commitment for festival.
1st February 2011 Generations Together - Reading
Recommendations for Future Work• More time needed in planning phase before
starting delivery (4-6 months rather than 5 weeks!)
• Develop commissioning process:– 2 step process of application and presentation– More partner representatives on panel– Young and older people on panel
• More face-to-face evaluation techniques• Start grassroots projects with less money,
providing more funding dependent on success.
1st February 2011 Generations Together - Reading
Contact Us• Andrew Haydon – Schools Liaison Officer – Central
Berkshire Education Business Partnership - andrew.haydon@cbebp.co.uk – 0118 984 6947
• Until 31st March 2011: Lorna Stanley – Project Officer – Age UK Berkshire - lornas@acberk.org – 07795 481 764
• Until 31st March 2011: Generations Together Office, Age UK Berkshire, Huntley House, 119 London Street, Reading, Berkshire. RG1 4QA. generationstogether@acberk.org - 0118 902 3598
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