EUROPEAN DAY OF SOLIDARITY BETWEEN GENERATIONS

EUROPEAN DAY OF SOLIDARITY BETWEEN THE GENERATIONS
This event was also the launch of the Belper Intergenerational Knife Crime Project. A lot of work went into the planning and preparation for this event. It was fully supported by the police, neighbourhood watch, Safer Neighbourhoods and DIgS (Derbyshire County Council Intergenerational Strategy).
Surveys were sent out to different groups around perception of knife crime with a 70% return which we were well pleased with. On the day a large display of the results was unveiled after a speech by Councillor Anne Western (Derbyshire County Council Minister for Children and Young Peoples Services). Stands were provided by DIgS (DCC intergenerational strategy) Police Task Force (Knife Arch) & Dog Handler, Safer Neighbourhoods, Neighbourhood Watch, & V involved.
The young people had designed quiz sheets around text speak – the older people had to translate the text by asking young people for help. The older people had designed a quiz for young people based on old Belper, the young people had to ask older people for help. The activity caused much chatter and laughing between the groups. The Nintendo Wii was set up – the young challenged the older people to games, also the Jam Jar (music room) was open and groups were encouraged to have a mess about with the equipment.
WHO ATTENDED
15 young people from BELPER SCHOOL who helped in every way, especially socialising with the elderly people attending.
12 elderly people from the ALDER ROAD group (target estate)
60 officials and guests signed in, including;
3 Derbyshire County Councillors,
3 heads of departments Derbyshire County Council
Representatives from;
National Youth Agency
Amber Valley Borough Council
Holbrook Parish Council
Methodist Circuit
Derbyshire Constabulary (various departments)
Beth Johnson Foundation (National Intergenerational Organisation)
English Churches (Housing)
Press officers
Endeavour Training
Rotary Club
8 trustees; THE DROP INN

Buffet lunch was provided by the Welcome Tavern, Liza did an amazing job at very short notice (24 hours).
The whole day was a total success in terms of socialising between the generations and publicity which came out of it. National Youth Agency want to use the Knife Crime Project as a pilot – so do the Beth Johnson Foundation, our whole profile is looking good.
Full report of the research and the day its self has been produced.