Solidarity Between Generations day
Pictured: Participants of Experience Counts 50+ programme
Last updated:2 May 2012
29 April was the European Day of Intergenerational Solidarity. The campaign aims to promote an age-friendly European Union by 2020 and is therefore integral to the 2012 European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between generations (EY2012).
The European Social Fund (ESF), with its longer-term perspective and role to help introduce new approaches, supports work with the 50+ age group by funding some ground breaking practical initiatives for older workers which feature in the themes section of the ESF-Works website. The 50+ older workers section includes information on lessons learned, news and projects.
Similarly, TAEN – The Age and Employment Network has produced a new booklet ‘ESF projects successfully engaging with the over-50s’ This good practice guide will help all providers keen to offer a good service to their 50+ participants.
One project which has supported the aim of creating an age-friendly environment and features in both the good practice guide and on the ESF-Works website is the New Challenge: Experience Counts 50+ Programme. This London Councils/ESF Co-financed programme offered a small, friendly environment with an experienced recruitment and training team. The team has worked in the local area for many years to support economically inactive and unemployed residents from Brent and Harrow in London back into the labour market.
The team were in most cases younger than the clients, and although the participants were 50+, this did not create any problems, and in many cases fostered a close professional relationship. As part of the programme, the project offered a 2-day motivational training course to clients who felt they would benefit. This was in many instances delivered by a professional trainer who was younger than the participants, however, the group dynamics worked very well and not only were the participants able to learn new techniques to improve their confidence but the trainer said he felt inspired by the enthusiasm and willingness to learn shown by the individuals taking part.
Participants from the project have gained self respect and realised that experience does count. As part of this they have helped people younger than themselves to achieve their goals in life.
Miriam is an example of an older person who accessed the project. She saw an advert for the Experience Counts 50+ programme and at the age of 66 booked an appointment with a careers adviser at New Challenge. Through getting involved, she now has a licence to operate and deliver services to Harrow Council as a long-term carer for vulnerable adults.
More Information about Department for Work and Pensions-led inititiaves related to an Ageing Society and on EY2012 can be found on its website
The European Commission website also has information about the EY2012, the countries participating, a database of the latest initiatives, and logos to use on your website and other publicity material.