An interview with Lorraine George

Kate –‘How did you first find out about intergenerational practice and what does it mean to you?’

I first encountered intergenerational practice when I stumbled across a film trailer called ‘The Growing Season’ (originally called ‘Present Perfect’) released by Providence Mount St Vincent in Seattle about their collocated intergenerational site. As a local authority development worker coming from an early years background, it inspired me to find out more and made me want to develop intergenerational learning experiences within my own community.

Kate –‘What is your role at GWT and what does it involve?’

I am the Learning & Development Officer for GWT and am responsible for the development, facilitation and evaluation of GWT’s learning and development programme and for building professional intergenerational learning networks across Scotland.

Kate –‘What are you looking forward to most in the role?’

Lorraine – ‘Being engaged in writing and developing intergenerational learning and training opportunities and working with like-minded colleagues who also want to do the same thing, raising awareness about the importance and impact of intergenerational work.’

Kate –‘What did you do before joining GWT?’

Lorraine – ‘I have been involved in early years for about twenty years, initially as an Ofsted registered Childminder then as a Development Worker in the Early Years Advisory Team for Torbay Local Authority in Devon. In 2017 whilst in this role I was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship which enabled me to travel to America and spend time visiting and researching early years intergenerational collocated sites i.e. childcare and reception classes based in residential care homes. On my return, I was encouraged to develop an intergenerational early years visitation programme in Torbay which was well supported by the early years sector, and this eventually led to establishing a Childminder collocated programme in Warberries Care Home in Torquay which enabled childminders to work from the care home on a daily basis.’

Kate –‘Since you started what has been the most interesting thing you have learned about intergenerational projects or GWT?’

Lorraine – ‘I think one of the things that interest me most about intergenerational work is just how much can be achieved by one person who is determined to make a difference in their community because they have seen for themselves what a positive impact intergenerational work has. There are so many great examples of grassroots projects that have started with little or no funding and GWT does a great job of collating and celebrating their success.’

Kate –‘Any projects/stories you would like to share that you have seen as part of your previous role?’

Lorraine – ‘Apologies for being biased but my favourite intergenerational project is ‘Making Bridges with Music’ which was developed in Torbay in 2018 (you can find the case study in the GWT resources section). This brought together early years children, registered Childminders, and residential adults using music and song writing to build friendships. The impact was extraordinary and generated an offshoot project called ‘Going to Charlies House’, a drama production that explored the relationships formed during the project.’

Kate –‘You are a published author. Could you tell us more about your book?’

Lorraine –‘Prior to the pandemic there was a huge growth in the number of early years practitioners that wanted to develop an intergenerational element to their practice. YellowDoor.net an early years resources company heard about the intergenerational work going on in Torbay and approached me about writing an intergenerational activities book called ‘Growing Together’. Although the book is written for an early years audience the great thing about intergenerational activities is that they can be adapted for other age groups and like many intergenerational activities they then develop into other things. The book also contains useful information about developing intergenerational projects and templates which can be used to share information with parents and families.’

Kate –‘How can people get in touch with you?’

Lorraine –‘I can be contacted through my GWT email’

Kate –‘Is there anything else you would like to share?’

Lorraine –‘I would just like to really encourage anyone who is thinking about starting an intergenerational project within their community to do so. Now more than ever there is a real need to reconnect with each other and even though we might not yet be able to socialise as we did before, particularly within residential care homes, don’t underestimate the strength of what can be achieved, albeit from a distance. For anyone who is working in the care or with the care home sector, please join our care home network that I will now be leading on.’