Residents from Campbell Snowdon House joined forces with the children from the local Bridge of Weir Scouts to celebrate the Coronation and the end of an intergenerational music project.
The event took place at Campbell Snowdon House bringing residents and their families together with Scouts, their families and members of the community for a truly royal musical and intergenerational celebration of the Coronation. The event was also the conclusion of a pilot music project between the Youth United Foundation and Intergenerational Music Making, which has been funded by mutual insurer, Royal London, is connecting Scouts, Rainbows, Beavers, Cubs, and the Boys Brigade with their local care homes across the UK.
The initial six-week pilots included intergenerational music making and creative training for the young people, giving them the skills to use music as a tool to support their individual and community wellbeing.
The project was aimed at helping young people increase their sense of citizenship, and develop respect and empathy for older people in their community. The pilots saw Beavers and Cubs visit their local care home at the Bridge of Weir in Scotland and in Banstead Surrey, the Boys Brigade meeting care home residents in Salford, and Rainbows partnering with a care home in Horley, Surrey.
Intergenerational Music Making (www.imm-music.com) is a national not-for-profit organisation and delivers programmes, training, campaigning & research to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of the old and the young in communities across the UK, through the power of music.
Youth United Foundation works with 1.5 million young people aged 4-24 to ensure young people, regardless of background or location, have the opportunity to become a member of a unformed youth group. This helps them to gain skills and experiences, overcome barriers and be the best they can be.
Deborah Summerhill, Activity Coordinator, Campbell Snowdon House said: “Our celebration day was amazing – we sang together, played with balloons and enjoyed some lovely cakes made by our chef John. We then went out to the sunny garden and played on the swing and blew bubbles.. It was amazing to be part of the project and it has given me so much confidence. I was initially a bit nervous to run the intergenerational music group and didn’t think I would be able to do it! I have amazed myself just going for it, having fun, enjoying it and seeing and seeing all the residents and scouts enjoy it too.”
Emily Abbott, Programme Director at IMM said: “The Coronation is the perfect opportunity for generations to celebrate together and celebrate. Residents from Campbell Snowdon House and the Bridge of Weir Scouts have really embraced the project which aims to build lasting connections. We are delighted to be working with YUF to inspire good citizenship amongst young people through intergenerational connection, music and community awareness.
“The projects are designed to improve the personal wellbeing of the care home residents and the young people taking part as well as empowering, inspiring and skilling up the next generation. Feedback from the initial sessions is already demonstrating the impact of the partnership in helping young people to develop empathy, communication and confidence and play an active role in their community.”
