As the year draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back at some of our favourite workshops from the past few months. Across London, children and their older neighbours have connected over games, crafts, and festive fun.
Life River Board Game
It’s official, InCommon has its very own board game. Designed to spark meaningful conversations, the Life Rivers Board Game encourages children and their older neighbours to share their life experiences with each other.
InCommon’s Life Rivers Board Game
To move down the river, the children and their older neighbours must ask one another questions, some more challenging than others, to reflect the twists and turns of life! At the Oaks in Merton, the game brought the group closer together as they shared stories about a range of topics, from their families and cherished pets to times when they’ve struggled.
There were plenty of moments of reflection and words of wisdom shared across the generations. Havovi, a resident at the Oaks, said she loved how the game ‘got the children to actively think about their answers’.
Show and Tell Workshops
At Norman House in Sutton, the residents wowed the children with photos and stories from their younger days. Once the children got over their initial surprise that the photos were in black and white (much to the amusement of the older neighbours!), they played a game of ‘Guess who’ to try and identify which photo matched which neighbour.
The older neighbours then took turns to tell the group more about the photo and any stories that went along with it. Personal histories were shared including stories from the war, how it felt to be evacuated, and what it was like to be in the countryside for the first time.
Social Action Superheroes
What current issue in the world would you like to change? This was the question posed to the residents at George Padmore House in Hackney and children from Queensbridge Primary School. To help get them thinking, the group drew themselves as superheroes, each with a unique power to make social change. Powers included shooting money out of their hands so that everyone can live comfortably, or eating all the carbon in the world to reduce global emissions!
Festive Workshops
Our final workshops of the term were filled with festive fun and featured everything from biscuit decorating to carol singing (and much more). The workshops were also an opportunity to think of others and spread joy and kindness.
Gingerbread icing at Sonali Gardens
In Rotherhithe, we organised an intergenerational card-making workshop to send well wishes and joy to Rose Court, a care home for people with dementia. Whilst in Bow, the residents at Gawthorne Court and children from Langdon Park wrapped presents that were then donated to Whitechapel Mission, a local homeless shelter.
Cards written to the residents at Rose Court
Creating a space where the children and their older neighbours could connect whilst spreading kindness in their local communities was a lovely way to wrap up the year. We already can’t wait for another year of workshops, filled with more joy, laughter, and meaningful connections. See you in January!