1. “WALK IN OUR SHOES”
TO BUILDING COMMUNITY
BRIDGES
Intergenerational work with communities

2. Utilising the Age Scotland Pack
• Intergenerational working.
• Time Bank
• Connecting Communities.
• Replicate across the Argyll.
• Discuss areas of concern.
• Allow the generations to understand the differences faced by
each other.

3. Area surrounding this sheltered
housing complex in Dunoon,
concerns raised:
• Traffic, around complex.
• Road signs highlighting
elderly crossing.
• On main road, to access
promenade.
• Bus shelter seating.
• Seats on housing side of
road.

4. There were several issues of
concern raised in Helensburgh:
• Uneven surfaces and pot
holes.
• Broken and wobbly paving
stones.
• Obstructions on pavements.
• Dog fouling.
• Weeds, which as well as
being unsightly can be a slip
hazard when wet.
• Misuse of disabled parking
bays

6. Building Community Bridges
• Based on the experience and success of “walk in
Our Shoes”
• BCB is an intergenerational project. Its
overreaching aim is to :
• “Connect generations and support young people
to engage with, volunteer and assist older people
whilst building their skills, knowledge and respect
as valued members of their communities”

7. Aims of Project
• Young people value, respect and support older people
strengthening community life and understanding
• Young people gain skills to help them play an active part in
community life
• Generations work together and
have a voice influencing
community planning and delivery

8. Examples ……. T in the Pot
• tea, sandwiches, cake, board games and musical entertainment
• This was a one off and a starting point
and an opportunity for older and
younger people to get together and just enjoy being in
each others company
• It also offered the opportunity to see what could
happen next…

9. Munch Bunch
• A fortnightly café for young and old, pool
competition, some literacy and spelling
help from games like scrabble, as well as
some learning around phones, laptops and
other gadgets
• The café encouraged learning from both
generations as well as healthy competition
• It increased confidence that each age
group had something to contribute

10. Fashion Show
• A successful “Fashion Show”, hosted by their local “M & Co”
with the young people (mostly Saltire) making the models up
and photographed them. The audience ranged from 7 months
old up to 90 years of age. This was a good example of
generations working together to
raise funds and strengthening
community life and understanding
• It provided every age group with
a chance to participate

11. The Shed, stitch and knit and lunch clubs
• learning and sharing of skills like woodworking, enamelling and
working with clay
• Sharing traditional skills, as well as learning social skills
• Confidence and self esteem in skills like planning events,
menus as well as breaking down barriers

12. Referendum Debate
• Generations came together both as panel members and
audience participants during a series of debates regarding the
forthcoming Scottish referendum
• Both young and retired people
voiced their concerns and their
opinions regarding an
independent Scotland.

13. Referendum debate cont.
• The animated discussions between the young and old of one
side and the young and old of the other often showed mature,
well informed stances from the young people, which impressed
the older members of the panel and the audience.

14. ` Volunteering with the young people
keeps me young, its lovely they spend
time with us and I feel I still have
something to offer`
Grace, 81

15. Argyll Young Entrepreneurs:
Social Media pop up Cafés
• To provide social media support to everyone but focusing
encouraging older and more vulnerable people to attend
• Across Argyll and Bute – Oban,
Helenburgh, Lochgilphead, Dunoon,
Campbeltown, Rothesay, Islay
and Mull
• There have been 93 cafes and
230 people have attended

16. Social Media pop up Cafés cont.
• Designed as a drop in for people
• Topics:
basic computing
internet
email
Facebook
Twitter
Skype

17. Making it happen…….
• Recognise the people power within a community
• Listen and think about the views of all ages
• Think about the language
• Consider what the benefits could be

18. Gwen Harrison
Community Resilience officer
AVA, Dunoon
gwen@argyllvoluntaryaction.org.uk