We can’t believe it’s already been a week since the Age-Friendly Awards! It was an absolute delight bringing people together during Global Intergenerational Week and celebrating the individuals and organisations across England that have been championing intergenerational connections in their communities. You can read more about the event, including the Changing Perceptions Talks, in our CEO’s blog.

There were lots of people that helped make the event a success but we’d particularly like to celebrate the brilliant Intergenerational Social Action Board (ISAB) for their efforts. They led on the design of the event, from coming up with the award categories to thinking of ways to make guests feel comfortable and engaged. The ISAB were blown away by the quality of the applications, which made their job judging the nominations even tougher!

And finally, without further ado, we’d like to shine a light on our incredible award winners:

Outstanding Scheme Manager: julie king

An outstanding Scheme Manager (at an over 55s retirement scheme) who has worked hard to make connections with young people in their community

Winner: Julie has consistently gone above and beyond for her residents to bring them joy and build a stronger sense of community. Most notably, Julie organised an exceptional Christmas party for her residents, which she made possible through the extra funding she raised from networking with the local Borough, and by partnering with a local school whose pupils created heartfelt cards and individual gifts for each resident.

A coronation party with a local nursery, organised by Julie

Youth Worker Award: Cara Hedges

An outstanding youth worker who has worked hard to make connections with older people in their community
Winner: Cara’s passion and determination shines through in all she does. By championing a youth-led approach, Cara places young people at the heart of her work while also bringing together the wider community with a wide range of activities, including wild food foraging, a repair cafe, and bushcraft workshops - to name but a few!

Maasai Community Day which ended with Circle Dancing

Community Hero Award: Sumaya Mahmood

An outstanding individual who brings people together in their communities

Winner: Sumaya wowed the Board with her ability to balance her A-Level studies with her volunteer work on the Digital Buddies scheme. Not only did Sumaya help to recruit older people for this programme, she has led and facilitated these workshops, empowering older members of the community to feel more confident when using technology.

A still from the Community Ambassadors Programme video

Best Media Award: Whitechapel Stories (Sidney Street Mural)

An intergenerational group that’s used media to showcase their project to a wider audience (media could include video, podcast, social media)
Winner: This year’s Best Media Award goes to the Sidney Street Mural, which was brought to life by the John’s Place Tenants & Residents Association. By bringing together local residents, schools, and community groups, the mural celebrates the rich stories and history of Whitechapel, creating a lasting piece of public art for everyone to enjoy.

Most Inclusive Award: Goofus Theatre

An intergenerational group that’s gone out of its way to make their project inclusive and accessible so that more people can get involved in intergenerational work
Winner: This year’s Most Inclusive Award goes to Goofus Theatre, for their extraordinary approach to intergenerational work. Through the use of immersive, non-verbal theatre, that combines puppetry, therapeutic clowning and music, Goofus Theatre has carefully created a space for babies, children and older people (particularly those living with dementia), to build deep and meaningful connections.

Best Campaign Award: Mill Bank and the Foxton Youth Ambassadors

A fantastic intergenerational campaign that is impactful in the community and works to change people’s perceptions
Winner: The Best Campaign Award goes to Mill Bank and The Foxton Youth Ambassadors for connecting young people in the community with a local care home for fortnightly visits. With activities co-designed by both generations, the project has fostered meaningful intergenerational relationships and a stronger sense of community.

A bingo session at a fortnightly together

Creativity Award & Best Intergenerational Project for Babies and Toddlers Award: The Together Project's Songs & Smiles

An intergenerational group whose creativity levels are truly inspiring
A group or project that brings together babies and toddlers with older people. This can be a babies and toddlers group or a group for older people or a group dedicated to both age groups
Winner: This year’s Creativity Award and Best Intergenerational Project for Babies and Toddlers Award goes to the Together Project’s Songs & Smiles for their use of music as a means to connect babies, toddlers, their parents and carers, with older people in care settings. This wonderful project fosters meaningful intergenerational connections, creating shared moments of joy and lasting smiles for all involved.

Dream Intergenerational Team Award: The Gladrags Secret Society

A group that has demonstrated outstanding teamwork in their communities and has helped bring generations together
Winner: This year’s Dream Intergenerational Team Award goes to Chickenshed Theatre’s The Gladrags Secret Society, who unite generations through the shared joy of music and community. Young people and Age UK volunteers host the older guests at the amazing Gladrag events, serving drinks, pampering individuals with makeup and costumes, and of course building friendships through conversation and dance!

Changing Perceptions Award: Fernbees Day Nursery

An inspirational group or individual whose efforts have positively reshaped perceptions of different generations while strengthening intergenerational connections
Winner: This year’s Changing Perception Award goes to Fernbees Day Nursery, who are leading the way in the intergenerational space by opening a nursery on the grounds of a care home. Through regular and varied activities with the residents, the children have developed a deeper sense of empathy and understanding for older generations - while also having lots of fun!

A photo from Fernbees Day Nursery’s intergenerational programme

Best Intergenerational Project for Under 11s: Living Lives Together

A group or project that brings together under 11s with older people
Winner: The Living Lives Together Creative Health Partnership wowed us with their effective collaboration that brings numerous inclusive and welcoming opportunities for people in Chester to connect across generations. Ready Generations brings people of different ages together, HealthBox looks at social prescribing and all aspects of physical and mental health, Live the Beat brings music and creativity across the life course whilst Live Cheshire supports children and adults with disabilities.

Best Intergenerational Project for Under 20s: Magic Me's 'Her Story, Our Inspiration' film project

A group or project that brings together under 20s with older people
Winner: Magic Me’s inspiring ‘Her Story, Our Inspiration’ film project brings together women in Tower Hamlets (students from Mulberry School for Girls and Connaught School for Girls with older women) to share stories, insights, and reflections on the challenges women face - and overcome - across the generations. It is an inspiring and powerful project!

A photo from Magic Me's 'Her Story / Our Inspiration' film-making project

About the Age-Friendly Awards: The Age-Friendly Awards is an event run in partnership with Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of the UK’s largest housing association Clarion Housing Group, and the #iwill Fund.

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Congratulations to the Age-Friendly Award winners