Live Arts brought young and older people together through an Intergeneration Project - 'Bridging the Gap' using dance, writing, poetry, painting and photography.  They worked collaboratively with Age Concern, WRVS, Full Circle, local seniors groups, Cherwell District Council, and local primary schools. 

 

Initial research has shown that there is a great need for intergenerational work of this kind.  Schools are looking at ways of involving older people to share their expertise, knowledge and experience with young people and vice versa.  

 

The project worked with Salsa England and a local poet/photographer, holding workshops with six primary schools in Banbury.  Volunteer older people were selected by asking primary schoolchildren to invite their grandparents or an older relative to take part.  If the children didn't have older relatives, 'surrogate grandparents' were found.  The workshops culminated in a celebratory event at St Mary's Church on Thursday 25th June with group dancing and an exhibition of written and photographic work.  A total of 120, young and old, participated in this exciting project.