Write Up Your Street project

Postcards from older residents to share words of wisdom with primary school children to support wellbeing during Covid-19

Benefit of intergenerational projects

Intergenerational projects provide opportunities for bringing older and younger people together, and building relationships and understanding between those who live and learn in the same community. Intergenerational practice aims to bring people together in purposeful, mutually beneficial activities such as sharing skills, memories and ideas between the different generations which promote greater understanding and respect between generations and contributes to building more cohesive communities. The beauty of intergenerational events is that the benefits go both ways. Studies show that children who participate in activities with older adults tend to have improved reading scores, communication skills, problem-solving skills and a positive attitude toward community service.

Location

City Wide

Project Team

Buzz Age Friendly Team

Buzz Start Well Develop Well Team

Manchester Libraries

Aim

This project used hand written postcards as a way to build intergenerational connections across the city.

These last few months have been a difficult time for everybody with many communities coming together to support one another, so we (buzz) wanted to keep building on this community spirit thus developing this project.

The project asked older people to share their words of wisdom with school children by writing them a postcard, aiming to build intergenerational relationships and improve wellbeing.

Testimonial

‘This project is fantastic and I will tell all my friends and neighbours to get involved’

Evaluation

The project generated a lot of media interest, being shared 30 times on Twitter and being mentioned on Planet Radio's website for local news https://planetradio.co.uk/hits-radio/manchester/news/manchester-older-residents-urged-to-help-children-through-covid-crisis/

The project also was made into a radio article involved an older resident (Elaine) who participated in the project and one of the schools (Moston Lane Primary) who were engaged in re distribution and played on BBC Radio Manchester.

Housing providers wanted to get involved and are a good way for us to engage with older residents during the current Covid-19 situation.

A total of 128 postcards were received back from older residents.

Children also enjoyed the opportunity to write back with Baguley Hall Primary School doing a tweet about their involvement, and the buzz Age Friendly team re distributing these postcards via winter warmer bags to older residents https://twitter.com/6DGBHPS/status/1328348979181072387

We have now received 433 postcards from school children with more on the way.

Postcards written by children were redistributed back out to older residents through winter wellbeing bags across the city.

Strategic links to local/national policies

Benefit	Policy
Increased mental wellbeing	Manchester Health and Wellbeing Strategy Greater Manchester Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
Social integration	Manchester Population Health Plan NHS Five Year Forward View (Department of Health,2014)
Helping child development	Developing Well: Aged 6 to 11 years Developing well: Aged 11 to 19 years Taking Charge of our Health and Social Care in Greater Manchester (GMCA, 2015)
Lessen isolation and loneliness	Manchester Population Health Plan NHS Five Year Forward View (Department of Health,2014) Greater Manchester Age Friendly Strategy