T in the Street

Overview

This project gave groups of younger (S5 students) and older people (with a diagnosis of dementia) the opportunity to tell stories about themselves in relation to their sense of belonging in a social and physical place which strengthened the bonds on personal and even political levels. This approach to inclusive citizenship for both groups enhanced individualised yet collective understandings of living with dementia, for the younger people, the staff involved and the wider community. A total of 54 people took part between the ages of 15 – 90.

Project aim

The overall aim was to give choice, respect, ownership and independence to younger and older people helping break down barriers that exist in their local communities whilst enhancing people’s knowledge on living with dementia. The project aimed to bring young and old together, to provide a great learning opportunity for both, and build trusting relationships filled with respect for each other.

Activities

The groups met every Tuesday afternoon and discussed school and everyday life using resources such as Life Box, Scrapbooks Digital Storybook, Timeline Scrapbook, Pairs Game, Photo book, Memory Boxes to record and experience the stories. They also had great fun working together to come up with new ideas.

Benefits for the Younger People

  • Increase knowledge about Dementia
  • New skills in partnership working with older people
  • Increased empathy for people who are older and live with Dementia
  • Confidence to undertake leadership roles, fostering and sustaining relationships with their community;
  • New skills for helping further their learning, life and work as well as affording them the opportunity to understand and adapt to each others needs;
  • Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Friend Award
  • New skills and increased confidence in sourcing and purchasing items needed for the projects from places such as the local charity shop

Benefits for the Older People

  • Learning new skills
  • Feeling valued and informed
  • Being an active and supportive member of their community
  • A positive impact on their health.

Benefits for the Community

  • Local community cafe increased business
  • New friendships formed

This intergenerational project gave choice, respect, ownership and independence to all the generations involved breaking down barriers that exist in the local community.

Funding

  • RS MacDonald’s Charitable Trust

Thanks to funding we were able to hire the wee red local community bus.

Evaluation

For older people, the project brought great benefit including social inclusion in a safe environment, things to do, the chance to meet people, improve confidence, feel valued and have fun.
During the project the service monitored, evidenced and evaluated the visible improvements in their physical and mental well being during this time.

Younger people were able to teach the older people new skills, foster relationships in the community during and after the project and enable them, to adapt and develop a range of new skills for learning, life and work.

How did you evaluate this project/activity?

  • The project had a few forms of evaluation, the main was to ask three impact questions at the beginning of the project and then to revisit them at the end of the project;
  • A fourth question was added specifically for the students;
  • Direct questionnaires were given out early for 3 of the sessions to ensure there was an understanding for the project;
  • Green / Red visual cards were also used and these were evidenced with photographs.

What would be done differently in the future?

  • The next time we will only have one workshop rather than two to introduce the project.
  • Smaller groups

National Objectives

SMARTER – Expanding opportunities to succeed from nurture through to lifelong learning ensuring higher and more widely shared achievements.

HEALTHIER – helping people to sustain and improve their health, especially in disadvantaged communities, ensuring better, local and faster access to health care.

This project contributes to the Scottish National Performance Framework (NPF).

Scottish NPF Outcomes

Our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens: To enable children, young people and (subsequently) adults to thrive from an early age, and make a positive contribution in the 21st century.

We live longer, healthier lives: Securing longer healthier lives for the people of Scotland will always be a top priority for governments and individuals alike. There are significant challenges which can only be addressed by everyone in Scotland working together, pursuing this goal through improving lifestyles and life circumstances, and a shared ownership of an effective NHS.