New Report from 4Children – Think Generational: Connecting generations to support communities

 The August riots have put the 'broken society' back at the top of the political agenda with all colours of the political spectrum asking questions about how we can create communities in which every member feels they have a stake. This comes at a time of profound economic challenges which will have an impact on the age groups growing at both ends of the demographic spectrum.

The national charity, 4Children, warns that the links between younger and older generations need to be strengthened if we are to stem the growing sense of isolation experienced by some younger and older people and begin to create more sustainable systems of support for one another. A new report, Think Intergenerational: Connecting generations to support communities, published today by 4Children with support from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, says we need to see both the young and the old as positive contributors to society during these challenging times.

In his review of Think Intergenerational in this month's Charity Times (published 5th September 2011), Andy Thornton, CEO at the Citizenship Foundation, said:

"This report, like the row over pensions, makes it harder to deny the mass ageing we must wrestle with. It also reminds us how difficult it has become to pluck out simple generalisations to inform social policy. No matter how we try to segment society in order to extract data to guide our decision-making, the Britain of today forbids easy solutions and one-size-fits-all prescriptions.

"Some babyboomers are retiring with bank accounts ready to fuel their next 30 years of ongoing enjoyment. But many are struggling under the strain of holding together the thriving family in both directions: happy achieving children and healthy ageing parents. If anything we are learning that we have become the expended society (too expended to become 'Big') - stretched in every direction, whether it be in time to look after each other, in geographical reach of each other, or with areas of commonality that cement our communities together."

Whether debates are focused on ensuring opportunity for all young people or on the challenge of providing long term care for the elderly, it's clear that there is a pressing need for a remodelling of service provision to adapt to this changing social landscape. The report calls for a new public mindset to see intergenerational relationships as a goal rather than a challenge, and urges us to rethink how we view long term investment in communities and to look for new ways to bring the generations together to help each other.

Anne Longfield OBE, Chief Executive of 4Children said:
"We have to adopt a new perspective on young and older people and see them as community assets and not as a drain on public resources. It's shortsighted that younger and older people are being under-utilised at a time when their activity could be the most beneficial to society. With a fresh vision, we could combine their energies to create sustainable solutions - for example by maximizing volunteering and by drawing on the unique assets of each generation."

Andrew Barnett, Director of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation UK, said:
"Evidence shows that intergenerational connections bring individuals of all ages a greater sense of understanding and friendship across generations while helping them feel valued for their effort and skills. This 'Think Intergenerational' report outlines some of the essential changes that still need to be put in place to support the intergenerational relationships that are so precious to families and communities. These measures have the potential to create a resilient, happier society where all ages feel valued."

Whatever else they may disagree on, politicians and decision makers agree on one thing - the imperative of finding new answers. But far-reaching budget cuts could lead to further feelings of isolation for young and old from the rest of society with the two age groups disproportionately feeling the squeeze from the scaling back of some public services.

The financial context
· £1 billion cuts to adult social care budgets shared by 98% of English councils in 2011-12 [i]
· £425 million extra new services needed, due to the aging population [ii]
· Most people believe national government (84%) and their own local council (79%) are not prepared for the future needs of an ageing population [iii]
· One million socially isolated older people will more than double to 2.2 million over the next 15 years [iv]

Think Intergenerational: Connecting generations to support communities recommends:
• Creating strong intergenerational relationships as a key priority for those making decisions about the development of public spaces and in the handling of community assets.
• Community 'hubs' (Children's Centres; Youth Centres; Care Homes and Community Centres) are encouraged and supported as mechanisms for building strong intergenerational networks.
• Building strong intergenerational communities as a priority aspect of the Big Society.
• Innovative intergenerational housing schemes to be explored as a solution to long term housing and caring challenges.

Notes to the Editor
Read the report at www.4children.org.uk/intergenerational (pdf download)

The Think Intergenerational: Connecting generations to support communities report says:
• The implications of social changes and the daily struggle families face in balancing work and family responsibilities can lead to reduced levels of supervision for teenagers and lack of support for elderly grandparents. This translates into costly and challenging decisions about care provision for both the family and the state.
• In the UK, the population demographic is shifting due to the ageing population. A falling birth rate and declining mortality rate has resulted in an increasingly older population. 50% of grandparents now have a living parent.
• Over 60% of women and 32% of men aged over 75 live alone. One million older people are socially isolated and this number is projected to rise to 2.2 million over the next 15 years.
• Both generations also have more spare time to become actively involved in their communities
• Resource of the extended family - grandparents currently undertake billions of pounds worth of childcare for their children.

4Children is the national children and families charity which develops, influences and shapes national policy on all aspects of children, young people and families lives and works with a wide range of partners to deliver real support for children and families in their community. It is one of the largest not for profit Children's Centre providers in the country and currently runs 40 Children's Centres and 22 Day Nurseries. For more information visit www.4Children.org.uk

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is an international charitable foundation with cultural, educational, social and scientific interests. Based in Lisbon with branches in London and Paris, the Foundation is in a privileged position to support transnational work tackling contemporary issues facing Europe. The purpose of the UK Branch in London is to connect and enrich the experiences of individuals, families and communities with a special interest in supporting those who are the most disadvantaged. In 2008, the Foundation launched an initiative on ageing and social cohesion, with a number of activities developed with colleagues in Lisbon. This initiative represents the latest development of a wide portfolio of work which we hope will contribute to a growing understanding of the impact of demographic ageing to our society. www.gulbenkian.org.uk

For further information, please contact:
Julie Evans at julie.evans@4children.org.uk or call 020 7522 6928 / 07917870641

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[i] ADASS Budget Survey 2011

[ii] ADASS Budget Survey 2011

[iii] YouGov poll of over 2,000 UK adults carried out for Age UK, February 2011

[iv] Older People and Wellbeing Report 2008, IPPR