On November 5th Magic Me welcomed Michael Foster MP, Minister for Equality, to share with him some of the many success stories of our intergenerational work in Tower Hamlets, East London. The Minister visited Oaklands School in Bethnal Green, to meet students and their older project partners from nearby Sundial Centre.

Mr Foster heard directly from young and older people about the benefits of working and learning in intergenerational groups and the impact of our arts projects within the local community. Describing Magic Me as an ‘exemplar’ of good practice, he said he is keen to see us share our expertise and 20 years experience with others, enabling intergenerational projects to grow across the country.

Since 2003 Magic Me, The Sundial Centre and Oaklands School have run a series of highly successful annual projects and strong links have grown between the three organisations. Young and older people have worked together, with Magic Me artists, calendar making, preparing and hosting a community feast and designing and making toys for a local nursery.

“I get to pass my experience on to the youngsters, they might learn something from my experience" Vincent Felice, member The Sundial Centre

The visit comes as the Equality Bill progresses through Parliament, aiming to ban harmful age discrimination and introduce a duty on public bodies to think about the needs of older people when planning services.

Michael Foster said: “With the number of people over 85 set to double in the next 20 years, it is essential that older people are not written off because of their age.”

He congratulated Magic Me on the many thousands of young and older people who have benefited over 20 years from the “simple idea of people getting together and learning from one another; the vitality of the young and the experience of older people, interconnecting to create a kaleidoscope that benefits all.”

Susan Langford, Director of Magic Me, said “Young and older people are often seen as the source of problems within society. At Magic Me we believe they are actually the people with the inside knowledge and skills needed to sort them out.”

Ms Patrice Canavan, Headteacher of Oaklands School said, “ Magic Me have provided a unique experience to Oaklands students to really involve themselves in a project where the results are visible and lasting. Getting out of the classroom and the usual school routine to work with people they would never normally consider working with has left long lasting memories and a taste for more”

NOTES

• Magic Me, Oaklands School and The Sundial Centre:

Points of View 2003/04 GCSE success for older people

Sundial Centre members teamed up with students studying GCSE Citizenship, using photography, poetry and other activities to explore what being a good citizen means in east London the 21st Century. Four of the older people, including one aged 84 years, took the GCSE alongside their young partners, completing coursework, writing essays and joining 120 students to take the exam in the school gym. All passed and Oaklands staff recognised the real potential of intergenerational learning for people of all ages.

Playing with Possibilities: Making toys for a local nursery school Young and older people worked together with a puppeteer and a sculptor to design and make a range of colourful and educational equipment and toys for under 5s at nearby Columbia Market Nursery School. The project again contributed to students’ GCSE Citizenship coursework.

Ages and Stages: A calendar with top tips on the key moments in life

In 2008 participants used photography, drama and discussion to share their life experiences and aspirations, exploring the key moments and stages in life: your first wage packet, learning to drive, becoming a grandparent or moving to another country. The calendar they created with 12 lively photos, plus top tips to help you cope with life’s challenges, now hangs on walls all over the world.

Feast! Creating a community lunch

In 2009 a group of 17 people aged 14 to 93 were challenged to plan and make a feast for local people who they thought deserved a treat, in just 6 weeks! They learned to make pizza, soup and biscuits from scratch; some students were inspired to carry on cooking at school and at home, and to be more adventurous about trying new foods!

National Recognition

In 2005 Oaklands School won the HUG Help Unite Generations Award, an annual prize given by Help the Aged, recognising excellence in this field.

In March 2007 a programme featuring Playing with Possibilities and other Magic Me projects was aired on BBC Radio 4.

• The Equality Bill, introduced in April 2009 by Minister for Women and Equality Harriet Harman, sets out groundbreaking new laws which will help narrow the gap between rich and poor; require business to report on gender pay; outlaw age discrimination ; and significantly strengthen Britain’s anti-discrimination legislation.
• ‘A Fairer Future - The Equality Bill and other action to make equality a reality’ can be downloaded at www.equalities.gov.uk