1. Improving intergenerational
relations through a targeted
approach in the UK:
case study of pioneering work
among the LGBT community
Jessica Watson, International Longevity Centre – UK
International Federation on Ageing Conference
May 30 2012
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
2. About ILC-UK
The International Longevity Centre-UK is the leading
UK think tank on longevity and demographic change.
It is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing
and population change.
The ILC-UK is one of 14 partners in the International
Longevity Centre Global Alliance. The alliance is a
multinational research and educational consortium.
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
3. ILC-UK work on intergenerational
relations in the LGBT community
‘Bridging the gap: exploring the potential for
bringing older and younger LGBT people together’
- Evidence review
‘Celebrating Intergenerational Diversity’ –
evaluation of three pilot projects
‘Intergenerational projects for the LGBT
community’ – toolkit for creating an
intergenerational project
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
4. What do we mean by LGBT?
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender
LGBTQ – includes terms such as
‘Questioning’ or ‘Queer’
Identity versus behaviour
Shared issues; discrimination,
marginalisation
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
5. UK LGBT community
5-7% of the UK population are LGB
Data issues
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
6. Ageing in the LGBT community
Invisibility in research
Youth as a precondition to participation in
culture
Premature ageing
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
7. Issues facing LGBT people
Social exclusion
Mental ill-health
Physical health risks
Service responses
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
8. A role for intergenerational work?
“…aims to bring people together in purposeful,
mutually beneficial activities which promote
greater understanding and respect between
generations and contributes to building more
cohesive communities. Intergenerational practice
is inclusive, building on the positive resources that
the young and old have to offer each other and
those around them.”
Diverse objectives and approaches
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
9. A role for intergenerational work?
Identifying common ground
Potential benefits
Limitations
Challenges
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
10. Pilot LGBT projects
Stockport
– advocacy and research
Leicester
– local history
Camden
– arts workshops
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
11. Pilot project evaluation
Aims
Methodology
– Semi-structured interviews
– Evaluation forms
– Analysis with coding template
Limitations
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
12. Participation
Project Camden Leicester Stockport
Number of Older
Participants 15 8 10
Engaged
Number of
Younger
Participants
15 13 18
Engaged
Total Number of
Participants
30 21 28
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
13. Participation
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
14. Participation
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
15. Benefits of working intergenerationally
in the LGBT community
Greater understanding of one’s LGBT identity
– “Understanding properly what it means to be a gay man”
Sharing experiences
– “If people don’t interact, whatever group they are and don’t
talk to each other, you don’t understand the problems and
as a consequence also your problems as well.”
Needs analysis
– “Next of kin questions – should be accepted no matter what
the sexuality”
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
16. Benefits of working intergenerationally
in the LGBT community
Strengthening intergenerational ties
– “For many people the family environment is a heterosexual
set up and so if you are a younger person who is LGBT
you are not going to have that kind of conversation with
your grandparents”
Providing LGBT role models
– “for a lot of younger people, seeing older people…gave
them thought about the way they want to be [in the future]”
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
17. Benefits of working intergenerationally
in the LGBT community
Reducing discrimination and stereotyping
– “…I thought that older people were rude and not
approachable, I don’t know why, but they are not like that”
Improving social support
- Interviews revealed a number of participants planned to stay
in touch with someone they met on the project
Improving skills
– more than 90% respondents reporting positive development
in confidence and working with others
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
18. Challenges of working
intergenerationally
Slow development of group dynamics
Reported communication difficulties
Working alongside existing groups
Practical obstacles
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
19. Toolkit development
Informed by evidence review
and pilot projects evaluation
Development of a process
model for establishing a
project
Informal, engaging language
Case studies and quotations
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
20. Recommendations
Further work is needed to understand the benefits
of intergenerational work among the LGBT
community
Youth services and older people’s networks in a
time of cuts
Services and marginalised groups
Focus on soft skills
Public funding of intergenerational work
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
21. Many thanks
Dr Dylan Kneale, Sally-Marie Bamford, Charlotte
Potter, Valentina Serra, Lilly Diener
Age UK Camden, Leicester, Stockport; Gendered
Intelligence (Camden); Leicester LGBT Centre;
Stockport Youth Services
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
22. Many thanks
Copies of the report available:
www.ilcuk.org.uk
International Longevity Centre - UK
dylankneale@ilcuk.org.uk or jessicawatson@ilcuk.org.uk
Twitter: @ilcuk
The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.