Intergenerational Friendship - Mutually Magical (For Old and Young Alike)
Let’s start with a story of friendship
Meet Iris (aged 89) and Heath (aged 6).
Every month, Iris awaits Heath’s posted pack containing a handmade craft and some facts about him.
Just as Heath awaits his own special delivery from Iris.
Over the course of six months, these firm friends have developed a relationship through Crafting Connections.
Crafting Connections is our forever project, which pairs children with care home residents, who exchange art and questionnaires in the post each month. The friendship between Iris and our Founder and CEO's son Heath, is a perfect example of the magic that happens when older generations connect with younger ones.
However, this friendship is pretty unusual, particularly in the UK (which is among the most age-segregated countries in the world). Here, the housing crisis and fall-away of shared community spaces has led to a decline in social mixing between generations. London is particularly affected; since 1991 the median age of parts of inner London fell by 10 years, while it rose by 10 years in parts of outer London.
The work of The Together Project aims to reconnect generations all over the country. And there are many very good reasons for doing so, such as…
A FRESH PERSPECTIVE (ON EVERYTHING)
Iris’ childhood was lived among the realities of war - of rationing, evacuation and uncertainty. She was six years old when WW2 began, and was just about to enter her teenage years by the time VE Day arrived. At the same age of six, and in real contrast to a time of impending war, Heath adores sparkles and unicorns, superheroes and fast cars (he’s also a HUGE fan of Paw Patrol).
CONVERSATIONS CAN LEAD TO KINDNESS
In one Crafting Connections exchange, Iris told Heath that her daughter does many special things for her - one being taking her for walks, with her daughter pushing Iris’ wheelchair.
For Heath, these few words have served as a springboard into other conversations about how we show kindness by helping one another, especially those who need our help, like his little sister.
If you would like to join in the intergenerational fun, help reduce loneliness and social isolation while teaching kindness, empathy and compassion, head over to Crafting Connections and sign up to be matched with an older friend.
We’d love to have you onboard!