Intergenerational Activities Toolkit Case Studies
Young at Heart
Young at Heart is a community interest company who were inspired to start their own IG activities after watching the television programme ‘Old people’s home for 4 Year Olds’.
They collaborate with local primary schools and nurseries to facilitate interactions between children aged 3 to 11 and older community members. This includes arts and crafts sessions, knitting, singing with a choir leader, qigong, dancing led by professionals and more.
Interactions are not limited to school settings or the cricket club where Young at Heart is based, but there are also fun outings such as Drusillas Park and Campfire Days. Most recently, Young at Heart joined the Poetry Together initiative, founded by Giles Brandreth and the Duchess of Cornwall, where older and younger people come together to learn and recite a poem on national poetry day.
Rachel Gibson, founder of Young at Heart, said:
"At Young at Heart our goal is to combat loneliness and isolation. We offer our members fun-filled days with a variety of engaging activities, ranging f rom arts and crafts sessions to armchair yoga and singing.
After a tasty, cooked lunch our members enjoy intergenerational activities where local schools or nurseries join us for the afternoon.
The intergenerational connections are a key component to our sessions, designed to create meaningful interaction and support the needs of both generations. If the schools are working on a particular topic, our members love to assist! "
Blackboys Church of England Primary School
Blackboys Church of England Primary School attend Heathfield cricket club with Young at Heart once a month with 10 enthusiastic children across years 2, 3 and 4 participating in a variety of fun filled activities with the group, ranging from arts and crafts to planting and bingo.
The headteacher emphasised the importance of opening these opportunities to all children and shared how a year 3 pupil, who had previously faced suspension, truly blossomed through these activities.
These intergenerational adventures have proven to be incredibly rewarding, boosting pupils’ confidence, soft skills, and communication as they connect with a different generation - creating memorable moments and valuable life skills along the way!
Julia Harper: Teaching Assistant, Blackboys School
“Our involvement with Young at Heart benefits the children and lets them interact with a different generation. The conversations are good practice for our children and they get so excited about visiting.”
Year 2 pupil:
“It makes me feel happy because the members are happy too. It’s good fun.”
Year 2 pupil:
“I love Young at Heart. You get to read, play games and talk to the members.”
Copperfields Day Nursery and Saffron’s Care Home
After watching Channel 4’s ‘Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds’, Copperfields Day Nursery was inspired to create their own fun intergenerational activities with their neighbours at Saffrons Care Home. These lively 30-minute sessions are part of the care home’s schedule, where residents sing, read books with the children, and join dance and movement activities—all from the comfort of their seats.
It all started with the children performing Christmas shows for the residents, a tradition they still enjoy. Now, autumn shows are also held in the nursery garden for resident s to watch.
This collaboration has brought big smiles and benefits for everyone involved. For the older adults, care home staff highlighted increased social interactions between residents, improved moods and memory recall after engaging with the children. For the children, school staff have observed a boost in confidence through chatting, asking questions, and learning about others.
Alison Coleman, Copperfields Day Nursery:
“Intergenerational Activity can create meaningful relationships between older and younger people. One resident enjoyed their interactions with the children from the nursery so much that she wanted to invite them to her 106th birthday party at the care home with her family. The children crafted a birthday card for the resident and enjoyed themselves at the party. “
Saffrons Care Home:
“We’ve seen an improvement in residents memory after engaging with children and participating in activities.”
Copperfields Day Nursery:
There has been an increase in confidence amongst the children as they’re engaging in conversations, asking questions and learning about others.
Age Concern Eastbourne
Age Concern Eastbourne’s Shed project features three lively sheds, where adults over 50, gather to work on their DIY adventures. The goal? Fight social isolation and bring joy!
The Langney Shed teamed up with a local primary school for fun intergenerational activities. Over 3-4 weeks, with shed members help, pupils craft simple projects like bird boxes, fairy doors, or wildlife houses to take home. This collaboration sparks creativity, connection, and joy for all.
Conversations around safeguarding not only take place to ensure the children’s safety but the adults too. Volunteers at The Sheds project undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before taking part in the project and go through a safeguarding briefing before the session, including ground rules and a code of conduct. A health and safety talk is also given to both the children and adult participants at the beginning of each session, reminding them of the dangers of working in the shed and with the tools.
Staff member from the primary school:
“We have invited the Shedders to become part of our school community, which I think they enjoy i.e. for our Remembrance Service and Christmas Dinner. The Shedders have also helped our School Council make hedgehog hides for our environmental garden”.
Age Concern Eastbourne, The Sheds:
“The sessions helped to reduce loneliness for the adults volunteering.”
“The adults praised the children when they used tools successfully, which gave the children joy and a sense of achievement.”
Compass Arts
Compass Arts is a vibrant, intergenerational hub all about the arts, designed for adults who might be vulnerable, socially isolated, or have hidden disabilities. Open five days a week, all year round, they offer a lively mix of drop-in sessions across various art forms, all completely free.
They create a warm, supportive space that builds confidence, independence, and new skills through a trauma-informed approach. With strict governance and risk assessments and a carefully written conduct policy that focusses on the freedom of expression but also tolerance. Their code of conduct is subtly modelled by facilitators rather than displayed on the wall, making it less overwhelming for first-timers.
Centred on inclusivity, their weekly programme features everything from facilitator-led activities to open studio sessions, catering to diverse needs. Many participants go on to become peer service providers, thanks to their co-production model. They even have a special group for the transgender community, led by three under-30 facilitators.
Always listening to their community, Compass Arts regularly review what activities are most meaningful. Artists often collaborate on shared projects or contribute to exhibitions which are shared with the wider community, sometimes working remotely for those unable to attend in person.
It is a lively, welcoming space where everyone can express themselves and grow through the arts.
Ewhurst & Staplecross Community Open Space Project
The Ewhurst & Staplecross Village Hall Community Open Space project run regular events in the village hall, bringing people of all ages together. One highlight was a “no-cook” food-making session where grandparents, parents, and children teamed up to make hummus and cookies. The sessions highlighted that intergenerational programmes can strengthen family bonds by bringing everyone together for quality time.
Another exciting event, inspired by the national Age Without Limits campaign, brought generations together. Older adults from the Parish of Ewhurst and children of Staplecross Primary School came together to participate in activities, including a ‘Guess our Age’ competition and a balloon modelling workshop.
It was a fantastic reminder that age is just a number, and that bringing different generations together creates smiles, sparks joy and proves that fun has no age limit.
Bodiam Church of England Primary School
Bodiam Church of England Primary School has teamed up with a local care home for some fun intergenerational activities. Each week, a small group of Year 5 or 6 pupils head over to spend the afternoon with residents, sharing reading books and diving into topical activities that connect to their classroom lessons.
When pupils studied World War 2, residents brought down their medals and shared amazing first-hand stories, bringing history to life. They also get creative with arts and crafts, like making paper flowers to brighten up the care home on rainy days. This wonderful partnership has brought lots of joy and learning benefits to both pupils and residents.
At Bodiam Church of England Primary School, children are taught about communities, families, diversity and belonging and dementia in their Personal Social Health and Economic (PSHE) education lessons. This enables children to ask questions before potentially meeting someone with dementia for the first time and prepare them for what they should expect. The school also support dementia and older people charities with the involvement of their pupils.
Bodiam Church of England Primary School:
“The activities and interaction at the care home visits help to support the children’s learning by hearing about first-hand experiences.”
Hayley Moll, Bodiam Church of England Primary School:
“Children are more aware of what ‘being older’ means.”
Active Hastings
Active Hastings team up with local providers to get residents moving and having fun. This year, for Age Without Limits’ Action Day, they hosted a lively intergenerational session at The Y Centre. Children from Jigsaw Day Nursery joined over 50s for a 45-minute aerobic class filled with warm-ups, dance moves, and playful activities, after the nursery gathered consent from parents and carers of the children.
Everyone had a blast, smiling from ear to ear! Parents loved it and children shared it was the “best day ever”.
Due to the success, Active Hastings are planning another festive session for Christmas and exploring even more ways to bring generations together through fun activities.
Friends Altogether in Rother
Friends Altogether in Rother (FAIR) are a charity on a mission to beat loneliness and isolation in the Rother district through hosting lively social events, offering befriending services, and chances for people to connect and form new bonds. But that’s not all, they also team up with other organisations to bring health and wellbeing tips and facilitate intergenerational activities at their events.
They invite groups like the Marine Training Corps Rye to share stories and experiences, sparking meaningful chats and learning between two generations. Many older members have army backgrounds and enjoy hearing about the cadets’ adventures and dedication. It’s all about building friendships, sharing stories, and creating a warmer, more connected community.
Friends Altogether in Rother:
“Intergenerational activities can help the older generation who can be fearful of interacting with the younger generation.”
Glow Baby
Glow Baby is a multi-sensory play centre offering classes and open play sessions for babies and toddlers in Hastings. Once a week, little ones aged 0-5 and their parents are invited to enjoy 50 minutes of exciting activities in the cosy lounge of one of four local care and residential homes. They found that residents feel more at ease in their own space and find it easier to join in when they are in a familiar environment.
Music is a key part of the sessions and is evidenced to be great for neurological development; everyone sings nursery rhymes and popular tunes like ‘You Are My Sunshine.’ There are also a variety of activities including parachute play, and themed fun, like a teddy bears picnic for Winnie the Pooh day.
Sessions are designed to be inclusive for all - young children, older adults, and residents with high-need dementia. Multi-sensory play benefits everyone, fostering connection and joy. Older adults are encouraged to join in by playing instruments or holding the parachute, and parents can mingle with residents too.
Lauren O’Sullivan Barnes, Glow Baby:
“It’s often the residents you don’t expect to interact, that join in. It’s like a magic potion!”
“One of the residents has bonded with a child and would come out of his bedroom just to see him.”
Blackboys Church of England Primary School
Blackboys Church of England Primary School has proudly celebrated 20 years of intergenerational fun and connection through their Senior Citizens Christmas party! Annually, year 5 and 6 pupils send handwritten invites to older adults in the community, inviting them to a joyful afternoon party at the school. Thanks to a school governor’s community networks and local church links, the school gathers a wonderful list of senior guests.
The excitement begins with a school tour led by year 6 pupils, followed by lively chats over sandwiches, snacks, tea, and coffee. Children also bring their workbooks to share what they’re learning, sparking inspiring conversations. The school’s talented Key Stage 1 and 2 choir add to the festive atmosphere with uplifting performances.
Year 6 Pupil:
“At the Senior Citizen Christmas Party I like serving cups of tea and checking that the Senior Citizens are alright. I was a bit nervous to start with but became more confident.”
Graham Sullivan, Headteacher Blackboys School:
“Our Senior Citizen Christmas Party is a real highlight of our school calendar and gives the opportunity for our pupils to mix and share their learning with local residents.”