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WELCOME to East Lothian Intergenerational Network
News & Showcased Articles
HumanKINDness
Intergenerational work is often unsung - we would like YOUR stories. If regular connections are made between older and younger people and follow the principles of IG work.....please don't keep it to yourself!
We would love to hear about as many local intergenerational projects and plans as possible.
Get in touch here
ELIGN's ✨New✨ YouTube Channel
ELIGN's ✨New✨ YouTube Channel
Our gift to you - and you and you and you. YouTube! The gift that keeps on giving!
We have created our YouTube Channel - and it is already host to 4 recordings from speakers at our wonderful Celebration and Learning event in Queen Margaret University.
An interesting article from The Conversation regarding the success of homo sapiens which points to the social structures of being linked to and with each other.
An embracing of diversity, or collectives, or interdependence and support.
Makes an enormous amount of sense to me as we look at the power of intergenerational connections building stronger socially cohesive communities.
Retirement so soon?!
She's leaving.....
She's leaving.....
.....but not really.
Our lovely Caroline has been a face many know and love after 20 years of working in East Lothian. She's seen a lot of changes, experienced the ebb and flow of community work, led on many aspects of youth work as key link for Young Scot, Youth Parliament, Year of Young People and so much more - but she has also been one of our core group for developing ELIGN.
Many of us enjoyed a lovely retirement lunch to celebrate friendship with a valued colleague and to show appreciation for all Caroline has done for so many here - but the great news for us is....Caroline doesn't plan to be a stranger and intends continuing to link with ELIGN as much as possible. That says a lot about what we are doing too!
Thank you Caroline! And happy (well-deserved) retirement from us all. Congratulations to Emma, in background, who was successful successor.
Creating Intergenerational Communities
Creating Intergenerational Communities - a 3-year project. across locations in Scotland, N. Ireland and London with Generations Working Together, Linking Generations N. Ireland and Apples and Honey Nightingale (jointly funded).
Louisa Turner was employed as an Intergenerational Development Officer GWT with responsibility for the Scottish input and has been engaging partner groups / organisations to develop as "Intergenerational Partners" in E. Lothian. The aim being to develop and embed excellence in intergenerational practice - with focus on Intergenerational Principles and developing these across the 3 nations, so new Quality Indicators are being developed globally and the partners will choose 2 then test them out. Monitoring and Evaluation tools will be used to gain feedback on the QIs and help inform their development. It's hoped that this may also lead to Intergenerational Hubs in local areas.
Truly a great opportunity for East Lothian to engage at this early level and benefit from the focussed time at the beginning of this exciting project. To find out more, get in touch with Loreen and Louisa, but we're delighted that Our Community Kitchen and Compass School in Haddington agreed to engage with the project and are already going from strength to strength. Well done to our home team!
Opportunities and Time-Sensitive information.
Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund (Yr 4)
Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund (Yr 4)
This fund is perfect for intergenerational development work - check out the information and guidance documents through VCEL - the fund closes for applications on 29th Nov.
Maybe you have an idea, or an existing project / group, that could become intergenerational, but you aren't quite sure.
Please do get in touch to talk through your ideas.
Local Links and Opportunities.
Both Debutots (local franchise) and Immortal Jellyfish (local social enterprise) are keen to develop intergenerational groups.
Elaine runs this franchise locally and is keen to develop more intergenerational Debutots sessions locally, linking early years and senior years (with parents / carers in the middle).
If you are interested in being a part of a group like this, send her an email or check out her social media and let us know what develops.
Climate concerns to climate action to intergenerational solidarity through aims to develop circular fashion future, connecting through simple care and repair skills.
Beginner Textile Mending classes running in Tranent and Musselburgh currently leading to 'wardrobe revival'.
Keen to extend and engage with children and young people too, so if you are keen on an IG sewing / textile / circular economy group - you might want to get in touch.
Rebellious Threads mission is to slow down fast fashion by swapping not shopping, creating, remaking, choosing and reusing, caring and repairing.
Intergenerational Solidarity around Climate Action is powerful and does make a real difference.
An intensive 2 year up-cycling project in collaboration with the Dunbar schools, North Light Arts and Sustaining Dunbar. This exciting project will integrate with the whole curriculum and utilise the skills of various local professionals to deliver long lasting impacts on the consumption habits, not only of the pupils but of the whole community.
Our Community Kitchen (and OCK Garden)
Our Community Kitchen (and OCK Garden)
which shares the need for, & impact of, coming together and building relationships.
which shares the need for, & impact of, coming together and building relationships.
Intergenerational and inclusive - building community and connection through food - growing, cooking, serving and eating together.
Mens Sheds
Mens Sheds
All over the country we have an active Men's* Sheds Association *& Community Sheds. Friends. Skills. Support. Community Action.
E. Lothian has several, including Musselburgh, Macmerry & N. Berwick. All are very pround of their Sheds. We even have an Aviation Preservation Shed - with an amazing project ongoing!
DadsWork
DadsWork
One of the busiest charities and groups in E. Lothian - the wonderful DadsWork who share one simple message, "Dads Make A Difference".
DadsWork support dads / like-a-dads / step-dads and men who are key influences in the lives of their children to be the best they can be, from preparing to be fathers through to those who perhaps are learning to be hands-on and engaged as grandfathers through sharing care or other circumstances. Counselling, activities, mini-breaks, fun, mentoring and practical workshops - you name it, they probably do it! Lots of intergenerational connections with "Teen dads to Great Grand-dads" welcome and DadsWork enjoy working with pupils in local schools too.
Reading is Caring
Reading is Caring
Supporting people living with Dementia, and their carers / loved ones through Reading is now a programme available in East Lothian through Scottish Booktrust Training.
Opportunities for intergenerational approaches through existing relationships
"Golf in Society is a wonderful organisation - we put golf at the heart of local communities to support the lives of our ageing population. We offer bespoke golf sessions that are the perfect opportunity to give people a new lease of life while providing carers with valuable respite time."
Golf in Society CIC
Golf in Society CIC
A NEW opportunity to engage with 'intergenerationally':
Golf in Society - supporting families living with challenges of living longer through golf.
Are you interested in volunteering to support people in a golfing environment in East Lothian or perhaps you have a loved one you are caring for?
Golf in Society hosted an open day on Thursday 16th March 2023 at Gullane Golf Club open to individuals, their colleagues or groups / orgs* interested. The aim was to reach out to prospective service users and also to potential volunteers who might like to help support Golf in Society.
Who could be interested?
*Community link workers, allied health professionals, social workers, care/support agencies, golf club members, families, people interested in volunteering and others.
Interested?
"Lots of fun to be had, whether you are a golfer or not."
Find out more from golfinsociety@gmail.com
"A social movement creates a simple 'human space' through local people creating Public Living Rooms where people can just come together." Zero judgement or fixing - just creation of a relaxed space and time where everyone "helps" each other through connecting with each other. All ages, all backgrounds - they can happen anywhere there are folks keen to start one. Indoors or outdoors.
Laughter, chat, listening.
Each one as unique as the people in them
? Where could we have a Camerados Public Living Room in E. Lothian?
The movement that creates time and space anywhere to be a friendly welcoming space - whether indoors or out ("Public Living Rooms"). Inclusion, opportunity, flexibility - community caring for community. "Be more human"
A really interesting development is happening in central belt, with University of Stirling and partners exploring how to take a true asset based approach to ageing rather than accept a deficit model. With the expertise in Dementia-related research incorporated, this feels like 'one to watch'.
HIGHLIGHTED - prompt action needed.
Communities Calendar
Communities Calendar
Find out about Connected Communities (ELC) training, usually free, available for those volunteering in their communities. Connected Communities Calendar.
Some courses / workshops are run with partners / 3rd parties and may incur a fee.
And there's more......
New cultural / intergenerational storywriting resource.
New cultural / intergenerational storywriting resource.
Delighted to see that this has been supported. Take a look at this new resource and the work of SAMEE
Time & Place: Collected Poems
Time & Place: Collected Poems
Over the pandemic a beautiful piece of intergenerational work evolved from an earlier project. [Dreams and Visions creative writing of plays, with "Forget-Me-Nots", a group in Kent for people living with dementia and students from University of Kent.]
With an author / facilitator involved throughout both projects - participants living with dementia from England, Scotland and Wales were encouraged to think about their homes, one room at a time, creatively - and then write poetry. Each participant, supported by a student, found the cognitive and creative challenge, coupled with the relationships evolving with students, to be very positive. Although unable to meet in person as a group, as originally intended, the adapted project brought new insights, new connections and a remarkable output - a book which collated all the poetry, and reflections, into a collection, with sales raising funds for the DEEP network.
Great stories and examples of intergenerational projects and intergenerational families are shared here in the Eisner Annual Report.
Purpose - to help everyone, from families, to businesses and local authorities ensure places and spaces remain accessible for an ageing population and those living with dementia.
Generations Working Together E-NEWS – now available to all.
GWT news
GWT news
In November 2023, our e-news moved to a monthly edition. It still gives you all the latest news on intergenerational practice, resources, training and other events.
Also from 1 November 2023, our newsletter is available to anyone who wants to subscribe. There’s no longer a need to become a member first. Anybody wanting to receive the newsletter just needs to click the E-news button on our website and sign up. It is free.
We’re doing this to help spread the word more widely about the value of intergenerational work and what makes for good intergenerational practice, in the hope of encouraging more intergenerational projects in Scotland and further afield.
Capitol Theatres Dementia Friendly Xmas fun event is set to be delightful with adults living with dementia (and carers) alongside Hope Nursery children - all set for a musical feast together. Book directly with Capitol Theatres if this is gets you smiling :)
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