A new project has been launched to highlight the importance of intergenerational friendships and to support the hard work of care home staff.
The Together Project is a non-profit community interest company (CIC) that runs intergenerational activities with the aim of reducing loneliness and integrating local communities.
Launched by The Together Project, in celebration of National Arts in Care Homes Day on 24th September 2020, ‘Hand in Hand Together’ is an intergenerational activity to create handprints, share stories, have fun and connect with others in the local community.
Running since August, children of all ages and older people in care homes have been swapping handprint pictures and sharing their stories. Handprint pictures have been received from all ages, ranging from 4 weeks old to 102 years old.
To celebrate, some of the handprints have been made into a moving collage depicting a truly intergenerational relationship - a baby holding the hand of an older person.
The artwork was unveiled at Bucklesham Grange, a Hallmark Care Homes home, on National Day of Arts in Care Homes (managed on behalf of National Activity Providers Association). Residents and care home staff were in attendance for the unveiling.
Louise Goulden, Founder of The Together Project, said: “Hand in Hand Together is symbolic of reaching across the divide that has been created between care homes and their local communities during this terrible time we've all been through.”
The project is gaining momentum, with children and residents continuing to swap handprints and stories and forming important intergenerational connections. The Together Project wants to ensure every child and care home resident that wants to take part is able to.
April Dobson, Head of Relationship Centred Care at Hallmark Care Homes, commented: “This is a truly heart-warming initiative and we have loved being involved. It's been an incredibly tough time for everyone and this has really helped to lift spirits.”
Parents/guardians and care homes are being asked to sign up at: www.thetogetherproject.co.uk/hand-in-hand-together so The Together Project can ‘pair-up’ people of different generations.
The Together Project will be visiting some of the stories behind the handprints in their social media campaign #handinhandtogether
