Active Across Ages

Loneliness and lack of physical activity are major global health issues facing young and older people alike. That’s why the Active Across Ages pilot project was set up:

• To facilitate social mixing to promote social wellbeing
• To enhance physical and mental wellbeing
• To boost social action
• To establish credible and impactful models of intergenerational activity for future use.

After a one year pilot involving schools and older people in 10 settings, research has identified clear benefits for everyone taking part – young people, practitioners and schools and older people.

Young people have reported feeling happier, enjoying school more, having better views of older people and feeling more confident doing physical activity.

Practitioners and schools feel that the project has helped to raise the profile of the schools in their local communities.

Quotes from Lead Practitioners

‘I have loved this project.  I now have the confidence to deliver this kind of project for school and I want to do more in the future.’

‘This is a genuinely innovative social action project that has taught our school and others how to become involved in intergenerational work.’

And for older people:

• 86% felt their happiness had increased
• 62% said that their confidence to be physically active had increased
• 90% said that their opinions of young people had got better

‘It keeps your brain young and keeps you up to date with things’  (Older person)

‘I had a lot of old ladies here and now I’ve got ladies who want an exercise room’ (Care Home Manager)

‘We have such fun, we laugh lots, they say laughter is the best medicine’ (Older person)

With such positive outcomes to the pilot we are now planning a much wider roll out and are hugely appreciative of the donations we receive. THANK YOU