L4A in Leicester Wins National Award for Intergenerational Work

Local Social Enterprise L4A has won an award for bring older and younger people together to tackle leneliness, care and ageism.  

A pioneering Leicester project, Learning for the Fourth Age, collected the award yesterday in London. Their work involves younger people visiting care settings for older people to engage them in learning projects. L4A are winners of an Award for All Ages run by national organisation United for All Ages.

The award winners show how bringing older and younger people together can tackle big issues like improving care, reducing loneliness and challenging ageist stereotypes.

Stephen Burke, director of United for All Ages, said: “The Awards show how action by and for people of all ages can tackle some of the big issues facing our country. The winners are all making a real difference. By bringing older and young people together in different ways, they are reducing loneliness, addressing ageism and improving care.

“These projects provide positive examples. They offer a win-win for older people living in care settings and for younger volunteers. Opening the doors of care homes and hospices to volunteers of all ages shows what can be done to boost quality of life for older residents.”

L4A provides one-to-one learning opportunities to older people living in care settings using a network of younger volunteers. Learning boosts confidence and sociability for everyone and creates new relationships between generations. It has also been linked to reduced medication for older people and increased job prospects for older people.

L4A’s work busts stereotypes and breaks down barriers between generations. It tackles two huge social ills: youth unemployment and the ailing care system to create a large impact with minimum costs and benefits for everyone involved. The understanding created by mutual learning is key to an intergenerational society. http://www.l4a.org.uk/

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