A pioneering project designed to reduce loneliness among pensioners living in care homes by getting them involved in online activities with children has been launched in Nottinghamshire ahead of a nationwide launch next year.
Called the Inter-generational Unity Challenge and developed by award-winning Nottingham social enterprise Infused Learning, the project is designed to bring school children and old people together to learn online in order to help them recover from the isolation and loneliness they experienced during the coronavirus lockdown.
Infused Learning was awarded funding for the project from the UnLtd Inclusive Recovery Fund, which is a £4.75 million fund designed to help social entrepreneurs deliver their important services and even grow their impact while adapting to the challenges presented by the pandemic.
Tara Askham and Natalie Sharpe, of Infused Learning; the Nottinghamshire developers behind a new project which aims to combat lonliness by linking up care home residents and children in the county.
The fund is a partnership between UnLtd, the foundation for social entrepreneurs, and Comic Relief and is supported by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport as part of the Government’s £750 million support package for charities.
The Inter-generational Unity Challenge will see educational professionals from Infused delivering online sessions with school students aged nine to 16 years, which will then be used to create recorded activities and live interaction sessions for elderly people, including those with dementia, in care homes.
The idea is that school students will develop a range of personal and practical skills whilst having fun, while they will gain a Level 1 Award in Personal Potential as part of their participation.
Care home residents, meanwhile, will share their experiences and knowledge via the activities which will be co-ordinated by qualified lecturers and will follow themes such as art, local history, theatre, singing, mindfulness, games and physical exercise.
Infused Learning, which is based in St Peter’s Street, plans to run the project as a pilot scheme in Nottinghamshire before taking it nationwide next year and is now appealing for local schools and care homes who want their students and residents to benefit from the scheme’s limited places.
Natalie Sharpe, co-founder of Infused Learning, said: “This project will make a direct difference in helping combat social isolation which for many is at a crisis point within this pandemic.
“The high reach of this project means that we will be able to directly impact more than 1,000 young and older participants within the designated activities and interactions and will be able to reach hundreds more post project by the creation of an online platform of stored activities for care homes to utilise to create a lasting legacy.
“This will unquestionably help unite the Nottinghamshire communities during these unprecedented times by connecting generations and inspiring their desire to learn together, instead of separating and isolating them.”
There will also be an awards ceremony celebrating the very best of the recorded and live interaction sessions across Nottinghamshire with certificates and financial prizes awarded to those showing the most creativity, talent, and initiative as voted by the care homes and their staff.
Natalie and Infused Learning’s co-founder, Tara Askham, developed the project after learning about the health impacts of social isolation and their belief in the power of intergenerational learning to help bring people together.
Figures from the Campaign to End Loneliness show that the number of over 50s experiencing loneliness is set to reach two million by 2025/6, while research from FE Week found that 76% five to 16-year-olds suffered loneliness during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tara said: “More and more research shows that social isolation is one of the largest health concerns we face, leading to loneliness, depression, vulnerability and other negative health consequences, and while older people are particularly affected, significant numbers of children and young people have also suffered loneliness during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It has also been shown that mixing generations together can be a great way to combat loneliness, which is why we are delighted to be launching our Inter-generational Unity Project today.
“We are so proud to have a winning concept we can pilot in our home county and hope to grow and expand this project across the UK in the future demonstrating the immense benefits this type of learning brings to individuals and communities.”
Infused Learning is still continuing with its core work offering Access to Higher Education diplomas, helping people flexibly bridge the gap into University entry and other locally focused projects and training and qualifications to build and develop individuals and organisations.
To express interest in the scheme, visit www.infusedlearning.org.uk where you will be directed to a simple form, contact 0115 967 1513 or email [email protected]
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