Guest Blog: Encouraging intergenerational dialogue #GIW25
25th April 2025
This week is Global Intergenerational Week, when partners across the world join together to celebrate the impact of intergenerational practice. Today, we’re delighted to feature a guest post from Rohini Corfield, Community Champions Manager at Voluntary Action South Leicestershire (VASL), who shares some of their projects that build connections across the generations.
VASL Community Champions is a National Lottery Community Funded project which aims to tackle loneliness amongst older people living in Leicestershire. We do this through volunteers offering regular face-to-face, telephone and email befriending, providing support with digital inclusion, organising project events like Community Gatherings/learning sessions and offering regular opportunities for intergenerational dialogue. Find out more on the VASL website.
A very special afternoon
Welland Park Academy Health and Social Care students organise and host two social gatherings a year for 25 older people from the project. These usually take place at Christmas, Valentine’s Day or Easter. The students are given a budget and organise refreshments, table settings, seasonal costumes and a takeaway gift. Students welcome our clients and help them off the Harborough Community Buses, escorting them into the school’s community room, serving refreshments and spending time talking to them.
Students are curious about their lives – what did they do professionally? How long have they lived in the local area? How has it changed? What are their hobbies? Our clients enjoy sharing their memories of how the area has changed and telling stories of their families, work lives and hobbies like sports, gardening, cooking, reading, theatre, etc. Sometimes students entertain clients by singing and playing musical instruments.
These gatherings always result in fantastic feedback.
A massive thank you for today. How I enjoyed it, the company and excitement of our young hosts, just starting out on life’s journey. Absolutely amazing. Also a huge thank you to your team and amazing drivers, without whom we could go nowhere. Thank you so much. A very special afternoon.
The students also gain a lot of pleasure, learning and insight from these intergenerational interactions. The school’s PA to the Principal, who co-ordinates these events says:
I know that the students get an awful lot out of these afternoons and many of them continue to talk about the VASL clients long after the gatherings. Meeting real people with a range of disabilities helps our students think about inclusive practice and how best to support older people in a respectful way.
The Principal also joins us to demonstrate his support for these regular interactions.
Stimulating enquiring young minds
We also organise Human Library sessions with Robert Smyth Academy, during which clients and volunteers give an informal talk to students. Previous topics have included clients talking about their childhood wartime memories, and explaining how having an assistance dog enables them to live independently. Volunteers have talked about their careers as district nurses in England and South Africa, working as a Human Resources Director at blue chip companies, undertaking a variety of roles in the prison service, working as an air traffic controller and at Aspreys, the royal jewellers.
Students ask insightful questions about organisational culture and professional ethics. Most recently a volunteer talked about his career in the IT sector, artificial intelligence and his passionate interest in sustainability. He encouraged students to “consume less and care more”. All these talks are written up as a blog which is published in our local newspaper, The Harborough Mail, so that local residents can access the valuable stories too. Our Chair, Linda, has also given a fascinating talk about her trip to Antarctica.
The Principal at the school has written individually to thank each presenter.
I have heard how the talks are stimulating the enquiring minds of students – they have expressed how valuable and memorable they are……it proves how important experiential learning is.
Our clients and volunteers feel valued and excited at inspiring the next generation.
Intergenerational activities are truly win – win with each generation feeling enriched through the dialogue. How will you celebrate Global Intergenerational Week?
What is Global Intergenerational Week?
Global Intergenerational Week is an annual worldwide campaign that encourages everyone to embrace intergenerational practice and relationships. Each day explores a different theme that celebrates the power of intergenerational practice and its ability to build vital connections in our communities. The 2025 campaign runs from 24th to 30th April – share your stories and ideas, whether it’s a local campaign or a global initiative, that bring different age groups together in meaningful ways. Visit the Global Intergenerational Week website for resources, events and more.
Let’s share and discuss creative and effective ways to connect generations, and help make the world a better place for everyone, regardless of age.
