More opportunities for intergenerational learning Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 17:33

Front cover of publication - Think Community

A discussion paper calling for increased learning opportunities that purposely bring different generations together, within and outside the family, was published by NIACE on Wednesday 29 April 2009 - to coincide with the European Day of Solidarity and Cooperation Between Generations.

Think Community outlines the policy background and development of intergenerational practice. With case study illustrations, it shows the contribution that intergenerational learning can have on individuals, families and whole communities.

An example is The University of Glamorgan's Write on! Project where young and older people worked together to investigate and record their common life experiences through the ages, learning a range of skills in the process.

One young participant said:

"Something like this is really beneficial to you as a person. It is so hands on. It really gives [you] a good experience of older people."

As part of the document, NIACE has made a series of recommendations to support intergenerational learning in the future:

 

  • the definition of intergenerational learning proposed by NIACE is adopted across government departments, to generate a broad and inclusive view of intergenerational learning
  • specific encouragement is included in the guidance for the Learning Revolution Transformation Fund to develop new and innovative intergenerational learning approaches, including intergenerational learning in the workplace and within various family structures
  • each local authority includes a plan for developing intergenerational learning, as part of the Learning Revolution strategy. This should include plans for developing space and facilities to facilitate intergenerational learning, linked with agendas for extended services, 21st Century Schools as well as children's centres, libraries and museums

Mandy Thomas, a Senior Project Officer at NIACE and author of Think Community, said:

"In an age when more and more activities are designed for particular age groups, intergenerational learning brings huge benefits for the people who take part, their families and the wider community. The government's recent proposals on informal adult learning offer a valuable opportunity to build on learning that brings different generations together. We are delighted to be able to support others to take the learning agenda forward in this field."

 

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