Exploring scaling intergenerational connection

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InCommon is a social enterprise bringing generations together. Our vision is to help create connected, inclusive and age-friendly communities. Over the past 4 years we have developed our Connect programme bringing primary school children together with their older neighbours in retirement homes and local communities.We are applying for grant funding to test how we can scale our social impact by supporting more people to run intergenerational programmes that can improve older people's wellbeing and connection to their communities. In particular, this study addresses the challenge theme of supporting social connection in later life. Our Connect programme has been shaped by participants of all ages through an iterative, co-design process. We have run this programme with over 1000 people and validated the positive social outcomes it has for older people and children through an independent evaluation from Dr Ali Somers, a leading expert in intergenerational evaluation.We believe that there is potential for many more people to benefit from connecting with a different generation. To scale our impact we have developed a model in which InCommon supports other organisations to partner locally to deliver their own intergenerational activities, adapted to their community. Importantly, our innovative platform and support model will make these programmes more financially sustainable, by reducing the time and costs involved in managing projects and maximising the value that partners bring to the project.InCommon will develop an innovative online membership platform for local partners to access resources and manage the administration of the project simply, alongside personalised support to get projects up and running. This model will support flexible partnerships between primary schools, housing associations, care homes and other community organisations so that each project is rooted in its local community.As part of this funded feasibility study we will:* Run a pilot project supporting local partners to run annual intergenerational programmes in 5 locations. In each location, a primary school will connect with a group of older people living independently in housing schemes for age 55+. In total, 75+ older people and 150+ children will learn together and connect through this pilot project.* Prototype an online system to manage the logistics of running programmes, from arranging suitable dates to planning appropriate activities, whilst ensuring effective safeguarding and monitoring social impact.* Evaluate the success of the pilot and make changes to our model, in preparation for scaling to support more local projects in the future.