Last month, we kicked off our intergenerational project in Leyton! The 6 month long project aims to bring young people and their older neighbours together every Saturday in order to establish, sustain and nurture bonds between the two groups in the local community.
Every Saturday from 11am-12:30pm, we meet to connect, socialise and learn something new! In the first half of the morning, older adults are treated to The Blair Academy’s signature Hip Hop session, where they can reap all the benefits dance has to offer! The second half of the morning allows the young people to learn from our community partner. This is an external organisation who visits for the week to teach our young people leadership skills, career development and more! At the end of the project, the goal is that the young people will take over the dance sessions and continue to run the social club for their older neighbours.
As an organisation, we believe that fostering intergenerational relationships are important for both the individuals and the wider community. It gives both generations opportunities to learn from one another. For example, older adults can feel a sense of purpose and empowerment, whilst young people can gain a sense of respect for their older counterparts. Overall, it helps to keep stories, memories and histories of the community alive, thereby strengthening the community as a whole.
We are so grateful to be able to run this project. If you are an older adult or young person in Leyton and would like to get involved, please do not hesitate to reach out to theblairacademy@gmail.com We’d love to have you!