Preventing lost generations: using intergenerational work to help young people

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to determine whether the coming together of old and young people, who live in some of the most deprived areas of the country, needs to happen naturally to form genuine relationships, with their invaluable, knock‐on implications on the local community. It also aims to look at the value to young people of using community centres to host youth work activities, so that intergenerational relationship building can be repeated in localised settings to help prevent the loss of a generation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws upon the experiences of youth workers in Prospex, a youth charity in Islington, London, UK.

Findings

The paper looks at a gardening project on a social housing estate that brought together the manpower of disadvantaged young people and the wisdom and experience of an older person, and the knock on, almost accidental, effect that this had within the local community by bringing together the generations in other resultant scenarios.

Research limitations/implications

The research is anecdotal.

Practical implications

The paper provides anecdotal evidence of the benefits to both young and old people who are brought together within their social housing community to work together.

Originality/value

This paper shows the community benefits of young and old people working together on projects.

Citation

Frankland, R. and Conder, S. (2012), "Preventing lost generations: using intergenerational work to help young people", Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Vol. 13 No. 4, pp. 282-285. https://doi.org/10.1108/14717791211286968