Generation Gains
Our latest Strategic Funding Programme, Generation Gains, enables ZCT to address two pressing social issues in UK society in one programme - helping young people previously not in education, employment or training (NEET) to become work ready and addressing isolation and loneliness in older people.
Working with three partners - Saints Foundation, GLL and the Aston Villa Foundation - we have set up three pilots in Southampton, Swindon and Birmingham.
The programme has a continuing focus on engaging older men over the age of 65 who, statistically, have less interaction with family, friends and their immediate community and are therefore harder to reach.
On each pilot, the young people combine delivering a range of physical and recreational activities to older people with completing apprenticeships, such as NVQs, to gain valuable qualifications and life-skills.
It's still early days for Generation Gains but, thanks to the continual evaluation work by the University of Bath, we can already say, statistically, that the programme's
intergenerational approach is proving to be an effective intervention.
The evaluation uses specific measures to identify key risks that contribute to isolation and loneliness as well as a focus on physical and mental well-being.
Generation Gains is also looking at the benefits of the intergenerational aspects for both the older people and the apprentices.
See how Generation Gains is already changing lives for the better!
Meet Dorothy here on the left and Calum, one of the apprentices, on the right...About the pilots
All three pilots run sessions of core seated exercise, adapted walking football or cricket and a balance of other activities selected by each partner to reflect local need. After these sessions there is a social element to provide an opportunity for participants to interact over a cup of tea, which all contributes to their overall wellbeing. The apprentices achieveNVQ qualifications along with specialised Health and Fitness certifications and acquire valuable life skills to equip them for the world of work.
Saints Foundation
Our first pilot is a partnership with the Saints Foundation, the official charity of Southampton Football Club, with sessions delivered within local community settings at venues across Southampton, as well as at St Mary's Stadium.
Find out more on their website
GLL
Our second pilot is in Swindon. GLL is a large Social Enterprise which currently runs all the Swindon Borough Leisure Facilities. We work in close partnership with their Community Participation Team.
Aston Villa Foundation
Our latest pilot is with the Aston Villa Foundation in Birmingham, a registered charity linked to Aston Villa Football Club, which is committed to developing new programmes in the local community.
This apprenticeship has changed me so much! My confidence has improved so much within myself. This apprenticeship is just such a feel good factor...
For more details of the Generation Gains programme please contact:
Sarah Covington
Programme Manager
07875 885693
sarah.covington@zct.org.uk