School of Life - "Age is just a Number"

The ‘School of Life’ is a programme to promote skills exchanges between young and older people. We have suggested that older people may teach young people to achieve things which they are not strictly taught in school, or perhaps at home. These things may include learning how to put a shelf up, how to budget, how to grow vegetables and how to tinker with a car. In return, young people may teach older people how to use a mobile phone, use eBay, keep fit using a Nintendo Wii and how to use a digital camera. Both age groups can share their hobbies, fishing, sport, music, drama, dancing and crafts for example.

The project will focus on three pilot areas: Northampton, Wellingborough and South Northamptonshire and will run from now until the end of March 2011. We aim to train 600 young and older volunteers who will be supported by voluntary and community sector organisations to develop and sustain volunteering within their local communities. These initial volunteers will become ‘ambassadors’ and will promote the ‘School of Life’ to the wider community.  The aim is that further volunteers will then be recruited to the project and participate in celebration events. The life of the project will be captured through different means, for example the collection of ‘digital stories’.

This is a fantastic opportunity to get involved in an important and exiting project affecting us all.  Whether you have regular time to volunteer, just a one off contribution or simply for more information please contact amanda@snvb.org.uk. (School of life support worker for South Northamptonshire)

The ‘Generations Together’ campaign is being delivered by 12 Local Authorities in partnership with DCSF (Department of Children Schools and Families).  The national campaign aims to help close the widening generation gap. Northamptonshire are very pleased to have been chosen.