This year, we brought together more than 140 older people and 235 children in our Connect and Social Action programmes, with younger and older neighbours getting to know each other over a variety of activities, including historical walking tours, modelling miniature gardens - and of course - lots of games!
Our end of year parties are a chance for us to celebrate these amazing friendships that have developed over the course of the year. At InCommon, no party is ever the same, with older and younger neighbours taking the driving seat and designing their own dream celebrations. Read on to find out what they got up to.
Greenwich: Lakeview Court and Linton Mead Primary School
In Thamesmead, children put on a talent show for their older neighbours. Eagerly taking centre stage, the children showcased a variety of acts, including a stand-up routine, a gymnastics display and a tennis demonstration. One of the children even wrote a poem called ‘My Friends at Lakeview’, expressing how much her older neighbours brightened her day.
One of the younger neighbours reading a poem that she wrote for the Lakeview residents.
Tower Hamlets: Sundial Centre and William Davis Primary School
At the Sundial Centre’s Summer party, the children and their older neighbours showed their competitive side during the end-of-year quiz. Working together in teams, they tackled questions on world record holders, London trivia, and global celebrations. Through the quiz, we discovered that Creme Puff holds the record as the world’s longest-living cat (reaching the age of 38!) and that in Japan a popular Christmas tradition is eating KFC.
Certificates given to the children from William Davis Primary School, celebrating their involvement in the programme across the year.
Tower Hamlets: Sonali Gardens and St Mary and St Michael Catholic Primary School
We were delighted to welcome back a few familiar faces for our final session at Sonali Gardens, including the Whitechapel Stories team. Earlier in the year, InCommon had the pleasure of partnering with this community-led group, giving both the younger and older participants at Sonali Gardens the opportunity to help design the amazing Sidney Street Mural. The Whitechapel Stories team even gifted the school and Sonali Gardens with a puzzle version of the mural which was a beautiful way to tie up that project and the year.
Hackney: George Padmore House and Queensbridge Primary School
Our social action groups also celebrated the end of the programme year by finalising their social action campaigns. At George Padmore House, this meant creating bracelets from recycled materials to raise awareness about protecting the environment - turning items often seen as waste into something new and joyful. What made this workshop truly special was that it was one of the children who taught the group how to make the bracelets!
One of the older residents at Gawthorne Court showing off a bracelet one of the younger neighbours had made her.
More bracelets made by the group from recycled materials that would have otherwise gone to waste.
Tower Hamlets: Gawthorne Court and Langdon Park School
At Gawthorne Court, the young people and their older neighbours that are part of our social action programme had a launch party for their very own zine focussed on inflation, packed with tips on supporting the local economy and calls for the government to do more for those struggling during these tough times. Of course, no end of year party at Gawthorne Court is complete without Lorna, one of the residents, singing her wonderful rendition of Luther Vandross’ ‘Never Too Much’.
Our Programme Manager, Rosie, shared her reflections on the year:
“It’s been a joy witnessing the friendships that have developed over the year. We’ve gone from groups of strangers meeting in the Autumn to ending the year with memories and reflections of our time spent together. We’ve learned about the impact, too, with older and younger neighbours telling us they feel more confident and have made new friends. There’s also been a real sense of pride over the things we’ve learned and achieved together - from older neighbours teaching us new skills to our social action groups making change in their community. I can't wait for the next year of programmes to start and to see what ideas older and younger neighbours bring to their workshops!”
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