NATIONAL FORUM ON AGEING

OLDER PEOPLE'S CONSULTATIVE FORUM

ALL OUR FUTURES: SCOTTISH CENTRE FOR INTERGENERATIONAL PRACTICE

At our meeting of 14 August, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well-being provided an update on development work in relation to the Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice. As she explained, a small group of stakeholders have been working on proposals for a centre.

Brid Cullen from the CSV's Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme has kindly forwarded the attached paper on behalf of the group. This sets out proposals for a Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice, flowing out of the commitment in All Our Futures to such a centre.

The views and comments of the Forum are invited.

Older People and Age Team

Scottish Government

September 2007

Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice

The Strategy

All Our Futures: Planning for a Scotland with an Ageing Population sets out the Scottish Executive's strategy for 'forging better links between the generations', and specifically to establish a Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice to help develop intergenerational work across Scotland.

The Centre will be set up to promote best practice and to offer support to individuals, organisations and businesses who want to get involved in intergenerational work. All Our Futures states that:

Ÿ "The Centre will work with partners across Scotland, with the National Forum on Ageing and draw on the expertise of the UK Centre for Intergenerational Practice to develop measures of the success of intergenerational work.

Ÿ Government will work with the new Centre to support further mentoring schemes for young adults and older people to facilitate sharing experiences, learning and skills.

Ÿ The establishment of the Centre will support public, private, voluntary, community and older people's organisations to develop intergenerational work in their areas.

Key outcomes for the Centre include the following:

Ÿ Local Authorities creating opportunities for older people and younger people to interact positively in their area - in schools (in classrooms and in the governance arrangements for schools); in youth work; in services for older people; and in sport, culture and leisure for example.

Ÿ Businesses working on how their older employees might help develop the skills and capacity of young people - both within companies and in the wider community.

Ÿ Voluntary organisations developing further opportunities for older and younger people to work together and share experiences.

Ÿ Older people looking for opportunities to contribute to the development of young people - as grandparents; as role models; as experienced working colleagues; and as volunteers, for example."

(All Our Futures: Planning for a Scotland with an Ageing Population: Volume One: Summary and action plan)

Development Proposal

This proposal has been prepared by a Working Group of organisations in response to the Scottish Government's proposal to establish a Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice as detailed in All Our Futures. The Group was convened by CSV's Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme and represents:-

· Better Government for Older People

· Children in Scotland

· Senior Studies Institute at the University of Strathclyde

· Scottish Mentoring Network

· Centre for Intergenerational Practice in England.

· CSV - Community Service Volunteers.

This paper identifies a set of core values and principles that we believe should be taken into account in developing the Centre. The paper also describes a potential model for taking the idea of the Centre forward, which we recommend for consideration. In the discussions below, the term Centre is used to describe a concept without presuming its actual location or identity. The paper proposes a mechanism for developing the detailed thinking to progress the model through the use of an engagement and influencing process described in more detail later.

The Centre will be based on the principle of cross-sector collaboration and social inclusion from its inauguration.

Core Values and Principles

• The Centre should build on existing structures and organisations including the National Forum on Older Volunteering in Scotland (convened by CSV-RSVP), Scottish Intergenerational Network and the UK Centre for Intergenerational Practice.

• Young and older people must be seen as equal partners with equally valuable contributions to each other and to wider society.

• The Centre needs to reflect the geographic and demographic diversity of Scotland and to capture the diversity of existing intergenerational projects and activities across Scotland.

• The Centre should act as a knowledge hub to draw expertise and experience together from organisations throughout Scotland. It will provide information, disseminate best practice and support the development of intergenerational working in all sectors and levels of Scottish society.

• The Centre should seek to develop a shared understanding of intergenerational practice for Scotland that provides a framework for developing and improving practice and understanding.

• The Centre needs to reflect the cross-cutting structure of the new Scottish Government, and, in all its practice, seek to develop models that promote cross-sectoral working.

Proposal for development of the Scottish Centre

It is suggested that the Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice be established in a two-phase development programme to ensure that the Centre is grounded in meeting the real needs of individuals and organisations and that it develops close links with established networks and partnerships.

Initial Phase: Preparation and Development

(Present to 31 March 2008)

This initial phase of capacity-building and awareness raising work will lay the foundation for the new Centre and could be led by a partnership of interested organisations. Key objectives for the initial phase are set out below.

1. Establish an initial Advisory Group. This Group will provide strategic direction for the Centre for the first 6-month period to March 2008. This Group should bring together organisations working with younger and older people, funders, CoSLA, private sector, education institutions, and Scottish Enterprise. The current Working Group would be pleased to form the core of the initial Advisory Group and to facilitate the development of the wider group.

2. Identify a host organisation and a Centre Coordinator to develop a comprehensive business plan, marketing strategy, research and delivery programmes. These would be short term appointments to launch the process. The Coordinator could be appointed on a fixed-term basis, to be hosted by one of the participating organisations. S/he could agree a set of milestones with the Advisory Group to progress the initiative. Children in Scotland and the University of Strathclyde Senior Studies Institute, acting in partnership, and with the approval of the other Working Group members, have expressed a willingness to undertake the hosting and initial coordination activity. This framework will need to be supported both internally (by the participant organisations), and externally if it is to influence organisational growth as well as create a whole new field of thinking for Scotland. It will be inclusive of, and beneficial for, all sectors, improve communication, and help to deliver the Scottish Government's policy objectives.

3. Commission and conduct research into existing intergenerational activity in Scotland and compile data and best practice information.

4. Undertake extensive awareness raising activity, including a launch event and a series of Roadshows across Scotland, including Highlands and Islands, drawing together local organisations and stakeholders. Each Roadshow would showcase local examples of current intergenerational work, as well as helping to identify needs and gaps to inform the Business Plan. A possible strapline for this activity is "Generations learning, working and growing together".

5. Funding could be made available for a wide range of pilot projects in areas of intergenerational activity. This approach would for a framework for learning and practice.

6. Identify benefits of intergenerational working in terms of community cohesion, strengthening families, social capital and social inclusion. This may involve taking a thematic approach to intergenerational activity, such as sports, environment, education and learning, arts/culture, skills for employment and community safety.

7. Develop a range of information materials, including publications, website (with good content management and accessibility), utilising existing materials from the UK Centre for Intergenerational Practice, tailored for sectoral audiences and using Scottish case studies. A consistent marketing approach, including appropriate logos and branding, will need to be undertaken.

8. Identify a Focus Group of experienced practitioners to generate Scottish case studies and best practice guidelines.

9. Start work on the development of training packages, both for introductory and advanced levels.

10. Development of links with public and private sector organisations, and particularly to the new National Forum on Ageing.

Outcome

The proposal would build an initial consortium of key national organisations with action plans for implementing intergenerational programmes to support the development of a longer-term Centre for Scotland. In a sensible and coherent way it would develop the building blocks, principles and practices for the new Centre and ensure that these are grounded in the views of a wide a group of stake holders, including representatives from minority and marginalised groups within Scottish society.

The Centre will be based on the principle of cross sector collaboration and social inclusion from its inauguration. It will be developed and operated in a transparent, inclusive, informed and cost effective manner. Most of all, it will build on existing foundations to make a practical, meaningful and lasting difference to the wellbeing of Scottish people and communities across the age spectrum.

Budget

Approximate costings for 6 months to March 2008

Centre Coordinator & Administration Costs £50,000

Launch, Roadshows, incl. travel and Events Coordinator £60,000

Commission Website £15,000

Publications and marketing £10,000

Monitoring and evaluation

• initial research
• mapping needs and gaps

(Thematic and geographical) £20,000

Consultancy for themed development work £25,000

Pilot activity and/or best practice development £20,000

Total £200,000

Phase 2: Centre Establishment & Delivery

Key actions required to establish the Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice on a long-term basis are outlined below.

Ø Appoint a Centre Director and staff. Acquire and equip centre offices.

Ø Director leads on different work agendas around Employability, Learning, Mentoring, and Community Engagement.

Ø Implement Business Plan, based on outcomes of mapping exercise.

Ø Maintain Advisory Group, defining clear roles and expectations.

Ø Engage with agencies across Scotland to ensure inclusivity.

Ø Identify local Champions for intergenerational work throughout Scotland.

Ø Develop Best Practice Guidelines.

Ø Produce and deliver training packages.

Ø Develop Consultancy role of the Centre as an Information Hub.

Ø Raise awareness levels of Centre's existence and role and create opportunities for area-based and thematic structures.

Ø Develop Quality Standards as appropriate.

Ø Demonstration projects around Scotland in a wide range of settings and across public/private and voluntary sectors.

Ø Work with the Scottish Government to support further volunteer mentoring schemes for young and older people.

Ø Build close working links with the National Forum on Ageing.

Funding Issues

There is a need to ensure that both seedcorn and continuation funding for intergenerational working is developed in the longer-term. This requires serious engagement with and by funders, which will require the Centre to undertake an educative role - with funders, and applicants for funding. Funding would ideally come from a variety of sources - e.g. private sector, Police, government agencies e.g. Scottish Arts Council

21 May 2008