NEWS FROM UNITED FOR ALL AGES – MAY 2018
Our campaign for 500 centres for all ages by the end of 2022 is gaining pace with more than twenty new sites in development this year, adding to the shared sites already in existence. We are pleased to be advising and supporting many of these innovative projects. More and more people and organisations recognise why bringing older and younger people together to share activities and experiences makes sense. Here is our latest news…
OFSTED GIVES THE GREEN LIGHT TO CO-LOCATED INTERGENERATIONAL CARE
Ofsted has issued guidance to its inspectors about registering and inspecting the growing number of sites that house both childcare and eldercare services. This covers a range of scenarios involving nurseries and childminders based on care home sites. The Ofsted guidance follows a roundtable organised by United for All Ages with care providers and regulators. Both Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission were present and CQC has also recognised the benefits of co-located care. The Ofsted guidance can be seen here.
LESSONS FROM USA ON INTERGENERATIONAL CARE AND LEARNING
Lorraine George has published her report on intergenerational care and learning in the USA following her visit to several shared sites there on a Winston Churchill Fellowship. Her report contains recommendations for the UK and can be seen here.
CAMBRIDGE HOME TO INTERGENERATIONAL HOUSING INNOVATIONS
Two projects based in Cambridge are showing how intergenerational housing schemes can happen. Cambridge Housing Society (CHS) is letting flats in a sheltered housing scheme to postgraduate students with reduced rents in return for volunteering companionship and support as part of the LinkAges project with Cambridge Hub – see here. K1 at Marmalade Lane is a co-housing multigenerational community in Cambridge with 42 homes and shared facilities due for completion this summer – see here.
MIXING MATTERS – HOW SHARED SITES CAN BRING OLDER AND YOUNGER PEOPLE TOGETHER AND UNITE BRITAIN
Our latest report, Mixing Matters, shows how shared sites can promote shared care and play, housing and living, learning and work, community spaces and activities. Download Mixing Matters here. We are working with national and local organisations to make shared sites happen across the country. Please contact me if you want to find out more about our consultancy service. We are also continuing to build the Shared Sites Network, sharing lessons and ideas and supporting new developments.
INNOVATION IN CARE
Following a national conference organised by Nightingale Hammerson and Goldsmiths College earlier this year, a meeting of researchers evaluating intergenerational projects is being convened in June. It will take place at Apples and Honey Nightingale, the UK’s first care-home nursery, and will include a tour of this shared site. To find out more, please contact me. Presentations from the conference can be accessed here.
HOUSING: EXPLORING THE WAY FORWARD FOR AN AGEING POPULATION
This recent national conference on housing and care options for our ageing population was organised by The French Hospital Almshouses as part of its 300th anniversary. A report on the event is here.
JOINT SELECT COMMITTEES’ INQUIRY INTO ADULT CARE FUNDING
With the government planning a green paper on reforming care this summer, the Communities and Local Government and Health and Social Care select committees are holding a joint inquiry into care funding. See United for All Ages’ submission here. The all-party Intergenerational Fairness Forum is also holding a series of parliamentary meetings on sustainable funding for social care and intergenerational fairness.
INQUIRY INTO INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTION
Denise Burke gave evidence on behalf of United for All Ages on 24 April to the Intergenerational Connection inquiry being run by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Integration, chaired by Chuka Umunna MP. Denise talked about the benefits for younger and older people and their families of intergenerational care and learning with examples from the UK and elsewhere. More on the APPG’s work here..
COUNTDOWN TO INTERGENERATIONAL COMMISSION REPORT
The long-awaited report from the Resolution Foundation’s Intergenerational Commission is due to be published on 8 May, as trailed in The Observer. As United for All Ages has argued in our policy papers, rather than pitting generations against each other, economic and social policies and programmes should unite all ages. Everyone should have the chance to work, somewhere decent to live and support for families with caring responsibilities. Underpinning action on homes, care and jobs should be fair taxation, shifting the balance from taxing income to taxing wealth. We can create a Britain for all ages - we need leadership and a new spirit in Britain that uses the assets and the contributions of citizens of all ages.
NATIONAL CHILDREN’S DAY – SUNDAY 13 MAY
United for All Ages is supporting National Children’s Day celebrating childhood. See how to get involved in community events across the UK here
CREATING PLACES THAT ALL AGES CAN THRIVE
Generations United and the Eisner Foundation in the USA are publishing a report on intergenerational shared sites as places where young and old can thrive, with a launch event on 5 June.
Please contact me if you have any queries about our work and consultancy or visit our website
Stephen Burke
Director
United for All Ages and Good Care Guide
01692 650816
07714 334510
@united4allages
@downsizedirect
@goodcareguideuk