News

Fundraising appeal to develop care for all ages

Think-tank United for All Ages has set up a crowdfunding campaign to support the development of 500 intergenerational centres over the next five years.

The organisation's appeal to raise money which will allow it to help local authorities and care, housing and learning providers to establish new centres and develop existing sites for all ages across the country.

Financial services company Legal & General has pledged to support the fundraising campaign by donating up to £5,000, depending on the amount raised online.

  • Watch Stephen Burke and Denise Burke talking about the crowdfunding campaign here

United for All Ages hopes to develop 500 shared sites, in which older people, young people and children can mix and share activities and experiences, across the UK by 2023.  

Donations will enable United for All Ages to advise on and support the development of new centres through lessons, networking, research, newsletters, publications, events and a revamped website.  

The think-tank also promises to provide on-to-one advice directly to anyone already developing shared sites or considering co-location.

The appeal, which has so far raised £22,505 of its £25,000 target, runs until 26 September.

The fundraising campaign follows a report released by United for All Ages earlier this year  recommending the development of 500 intergenerational shared sites to unite young and old people, counter ‘age apartheid’ and tackle growing social divides in ‘Brexit Britain’.

Stephen Burke, director of United for All Ages, said, ‘Our aim is to help create 500 centres for all ages by 2023 where older and younger people can mix and share activities and experiences.

‘Ultimately we want people in every community to be able to access a centre for all ages. By bringing older and young people together we can tackle loneliness and exclusion and create stronger communities and a stronger country.

‘Our crowdfunding appeal is getting the message out about centres for all ages and means we can help more centres to get started.

‘Thanks to supporting funding from Legal & General, every donation will be worth more. Please support this growing movement for positive change for all ages in Britain.’

As Nursery World has reported, the early years sector has been heavily involved in the rise in intergenerational opportunities.

Apples and Honey Nightingale became the first UK nursery to be co-located at a care home when it opened in south west London last year, and a number of intergenerational projects have been carried out across nurseries, including shared activity sessions, language lessons, and care home visits .

  • Stephen Burke and Denise Burke will be presenting a session on intergenerational care and co-location at Nursery World’s fifth Business Summit on 14 November. Book your place by 28 September to take advantage of our early bird rates.