Intergeneration Learning and Caring in rural areas
“Combine the wisdom and skills of older people and the young! Build all age centres which combine child care, schools and daycentres.”
If you would like to comment on a particular block, click on the pale blue bar to the left of the text. If you would like to view the comments on a particular block, click on the speech balloon.
2. How does it fit with Compass’ core beliefs of equality, solidarity, democracy, freedom, sustainability and well being
This idea fits by addressing the need to:
Change the way we relate to each other
Build interdependence rather than isolation
Address the loneliness of rural life
Adress the concerns about the behaviour and wellbeing of young people
Maintain public services and shops in rural areas
Become less dependent on fuel and learn how to share our resources.
Address the demographic imperative to meet the needs of the elderly
3. How does it build the institutions of social democracy, like social groups and collective and cooperative forms of ownership and control?
Fear, suspicion, lack of respect are borne out of ignorance of each others lives and unfamiliarity with the other’s age group. Rural areas are losing the collective places, schools,shops, pubs, post offices, which are no longer viable as separate institutions. The new “all-age centres” would allow services to continue. Internet shopping for all managed and distibuted from the central base by the young people is one example; Old and young teaching and learning from each other is another. All Professionals will have a single space from which to operate and collaborate more easily.
4. How much will it cost or raise and where will any cost come from?
The money required will be taken from existing public spending pots which are currently allocated to separate projects, e.g the building of new children’s centres, the schools capital spending programme, and the social services and health programmes. It is an idea which needs to evolve as part of the local development frameworks using the money which is in the system as new projects take shape. It should save money as transporting children and old people out of the towns will be less necessary.It should save energy and money on combining shopping lists into one delivery trip.
5. Which groups in the electorate are likely to support or oppose this measure? Is there any polling evidence you have on this?
It is a commonsense approach ,which would address a number of fears and prejudices and would restore local services to rural areas. It also presses all the right buttons on energy reduction and suatainability. I suspect it could easily be sold to appeal to all.
6. Is there a place or country where it’s worked? Please provide some information.
There are part examples in the setting up of “one stop shops” in this country for health education and social services.There are many examples of inter generational work. Several countries and cultures see using the wisdom of the elderly as crucial to growing a healthy community. However I am not aware that the ideas have been brought together in a single concept. there are too few examples where the young are making use of their strong skills in ICT for the benefit of all of the community.
7. What are the three main arguments in favour/against it?
For:
It provides a sustainable way of maintaining services in rural areas
It builds trust and respect between generations
It provides a model for changing the current relationships within communities to make them more interdependent
Against:
It will take strong. clear leadership to develop the vision and change the current rigid way of thinking
Timescales will depend on the capital plans of different professionals
it transcends professional boundaries
The default "Block" is always the title block for the post, that is where general comments are posted:
To comment on any "Block" within a post, click on the comments bar next to that block:
To view comments about a "Block" within a post, click on the yellow comment indicator next to that block:
Leave a Reply