Outputs and Resources from Care Home Friends and Neighbours: Intergenerational Linking
We are pleased to share a range of outputs and resources from Care Home Friends and Neighbours: Intergenerational Linking, including:
- Our research findings
- Practical handbook for schools and care homes,
- Other materials to help support new intergenerational links
Intergenerational Linking Handbook
This free guide is filled with information, tips and learnings from the project, and is designed to help schools and care homes to set up their own intergenerational link.
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Full research report
This is our full research report for Care Home FaNs: Intergenerational Linking, entitled: “Discovering the untapped potential and social value of connecting younger people with older people living in care homes”.
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Summary of research findings
Short on time? See the main findings from our full research report in this 8 page summary:
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Additional resources
Our free Handbook above has lots of information about how to start an intergenerational connection. We recommend reading it if you are interested in starting Intergenerational Linking.
We also have the following resources to support you:
These activities ideas are taken directly from our 11 local projects, who have already done fantastic work connecting young people with older people living in care homes!
Hopefully these activities will give you some initial inspiration, and you can adapt them to best suit your own link.
Download Activity Ideas
If any of these ideas take your fancy, we have step-by-step instructions for a range of the activities here:
Step-by-step activity ideas
In 2022 we created the ‘Become a Care Home Friend’ Challenge, designed to get more young people thinking about and connecting with care homes. The Challenge consists of 10 weeks of activities, differentiated for Key Stages 1-3.
Although the initial time period has ended, the resources remain a great tool for Intergenerational Linking.
See our Challenge activities
Care Home FaNs: Intergenerational Linking originally ran from 2019-2022 in 11 locations across England. Each location made a video spotlighting their local project.
Watch these videos for inspiration about what you could do in your setting, and for more information about the benefits and impacts of Intergenerational Linking from those who have already taken part.
See the project videos
Remote connections, such as those that take place over video call, can be a great way of connecting.
We found in our project that remote connections can play a valuable role in preparing generations to meet in person for the first time, as well as keeping the connection going when face-to-face meets aren’t possible.
We have some advice to support you with video calls:
Connecting via video calls mindmap
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Video calls top tips
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We’ve pulled together a suggested list of books that might be helpful in preparing children for connecting with older people living in care homes.
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You may like to reflect on the following safeguarding information and use it as a guide in your intergenerational activities.
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The following information about Curriculum Links for Intergenerational Linking might be helpful:
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