Cross Party Group on Intergenerational Solidarity

14 November 2022

Attendees

Alistair Davey, Welsh Government (AD)

Amanda Everson, Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services (AE)

Andrew Pithouse, Welsh Government (AP)

Delyth Jewell MS (DJ) – Chair

Rhys Jackson, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales (RJ) – Acting Secretary

Carol Maddock, Swansea University (CM)

Catrin Hedd Jones, Bangor University (CHJ)

Ceri Cryer, Age Cymru (CC)

Chris Dunn, Diverse Cymru (CD)

Chris Thomas, COPA (CT)

Deb Morgan, CIA, Swansea University (DM)

Dereck Roberts, National Pensioners Convention Wales (DR)

Gethin Edwards, Welsh Government (GE)

Elizabeth Jones, Swansea University (EJ)

Harriet Wright-Nicholas, Youth Parliament Member (HWN)

Jacob Prowley, Age Cymru (JP)

Julie Morgan, Deputy Minister for Social Services (JM)

Laraine Bruce, Connections in North Wales (LB)

Mirain Llwyd Roberts, Gwynedd Council (MLR)

Phoebe Brown, Repair Café Wales (PB)

Rachel Brown, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales (RB)

Rosemary Squires, Youth Parliament Member (RS)

Ruth Parness (RP)

Sharon Ford, National Museum Wales (SF)

Marie-Clare Hunter, ENRICH Cymru Advisory Group (MCH)

Tim Crahart, Shared Lives Plus (TC)

Tom Magner, Carers World Live (TM)

Apologies

Altaf Hussain MS

Carole Philips, Kidscape

David McKinney, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales

Heléna Herklots, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales

Jayne Bryant MS

Orla Tarn, NUS Wales

Stephen Burke, United for all Ages

Sue Egersdorff, Ready Generations

Previous Minutes

The group accepted the minutes from the last meeting.

AGM – Nomination of Chair and Secretariat

RJ nominated DJ as Chair of the Cross-Party Group – this was approved by the Group with no objections. JB, POG and Altaf Hussain were nominated as vice-Chairs of the CPG by DJ – this was approved by the group with no objections.

DJ nominated the office of the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales as secretariat of the Cross-Party Group – this was approved by the group with no objections.

CHJ seconded all nominations.

Work that the Welsh Government is doing to promote solidarity

and understanding between generations – Julie Morgan, Deputy

Minister for Social Services

JM praised the CPG’s focus on intergenerational practice. She said this can take many forms and have many benefits for reducing ageism as well as improving health. She said this is important with the rising cost of living and war in Ukraine.
She said Welsh Government is working to create strong resilient communities that harness people’s strength highlighting Connected Communities, their Loneliness and Isolation Strategy, and Age Friendly Wales as key drivers of this.

As part of the Connected Communities cross government strategy, JM highlighted a three-year loneliness and social isolation fund to support community based activity by building the capacity and sustainability of grass roots organisations to bring people of all ages together. She highlighted £1.5m has been allocated across Wales from 2021-2024 which enables Local Authorities to work with County Voluntary Councils to support community-based organisations. She said initial reports are encouraging on how the money has helped. A report will be published soon and shared with the CPG.

The Deputy Minister said National Survey statistics show community cohesion is improving. She highlighted that working with colleagues in Gwynedd, the Welsh Government showcased good practice during Global Intergenerational Week, which demonstrated a Welsh approach to community cohesion. She highlighted examples of this have been gathered into a dedicated Welsh Government webpage which serves as a portal to all things intergenerational in Wales.

JM highlighted that, as a result of showcasing this good practice, Repair Café Wales has successfully bid for Welsh Government Foundational Economy funding to tackle the cost-of-living crisis in partnership with local schools by setting up repair cafes in some of the most deprived areas of Wales. She said these help as they are places where information on entitlements can be shared.

JM said the Welsh Government is working with partners to forge strong and lasting connections between those involved in intergenerational projects and those who can benefit as they want to build these practices into communities.

The Deputy Minster highlighted funding provided to set up Age Friendly Communities across Wales which has enabled a lead officer in place in each Local Authority. She also highlighted work with the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales (OPCW), Age Cymru and partners in health, social care, and arts sectors to work together to map out the breadth of intergenerational activity to see its benefits. She said more of this activity will continue to be embedded into communities and that this impacts the quality of life in communities.

DJ agreed that intergenerational projects bring joy to people and that a big part of the CPG is to celebrate learning from connections.

CHJ asked the Deputy Minister about mapping of intergenerational work and who is leading this. JM said it is important to ensure a person in each local authority who works with older people, which is an aim worked on with the OPCW. GE highlighted members of the Welsh Government who work on the report and highlighted the importance of empowering AFC officers to get out and work on intergenerational. CHJ also said that Health Boards could also help with this.

CHJ also asked about embedding intergenerational practice on a national level, noting good work across Wales but that this is often patchy. JM said mapping projects will help with this.

In a question on links to other work, GE said the webpage is a source for intergenerational activity and asked CPG members to let Welsh Government know of any updates that should be included for the future. The website can be found here. DJ asked members to get in contact with either herself or RJ if there is something to be shared via the website or if there are any further ideas for intergenerational work the Welsh Government should look at.

LB highlighted the importance of following individual’s journeys. JM agreed, noting that funding has tried to be wide ranging in who is supported and said this is why she is keen on supporting grass roots projects.

MCH asked about the possibility of lifting age restrictions to the lifelong learning agenda. JM said she and GE will take this back to Welsh Government, noting this is for the Employment and Education Minister. GE said that any further information on this would be welcome. MCH will send DJ and RJ any further information on her question.

TC highlighted the launch of the third Homeshare pilot in Wales, asking the Deputy Minister whether these intergenerational living models are something she would like to see more of. JM said she is supportive of Homeshare, highlighting her appearance at a previous launch.

DJ thanked the Deputy Minister and her officials for attending.

Update on photo competition to tackle ageism – Catrin

Hedd Jones

CHJ gave background on the photo competition, noting its launch at Global Intergenerational Week 2022. She highlighted the work the Welsh Government have done on intergenerational alongside the other work that has been done to tackle loneliness and social isolation. She argued there has been little investment on intergenerational practice in stark contrast to Scotland.

CHJ went on to highlight the event in the Senedd on 15^th November which will include an exhibition of photos from the competition that aims to promote intergenerational practice. The exhibition is then being toured around the Welsh national museums. CHJ will share the images and dates for the tour.

Any Other Business

TM reminded the group to contact him with anything that would be newsworthy for Carers World Live. TM can be contacted by emailing news@carersworldlive.co.uk.

DM flagged an intergenerational research project that looks at climate change from an intergenerational perspective, noting they will be working in Gypsy Traveller sites, rural farming, and coastal care homes. She said she would be happy to chat about the project to the group. DM said she will circulate more information on the work once available.

CT asked about the Centre for Intergenerational Work, questioning why Wales does not have one now. CHJ said this was funded for three years and that the funding ended. She says a lot of other countries have advanced and been provided government support while Wales has focused on creating reports and strategies.

RB highlighted a project from the University of Stirling called Reimagining the Future in Older Age which is based around challenging ideas that older people aren’t as invested in the future. A toolkit around intergenerational best practice from the project can be found here. Additionally another report that specifically links intergenerational and age-friendly concepts in living ecosystems can be found here.

DJ asked the group whether they would like to write to the Welsh Government to set out the intergenerational challenges and what the group would like to see the Welsh Government do. The group was happy to explore this idea. DJ asked the group for anyone who would like to work on this to contact her by email on Delyth.Jewell@Senedd.Wales.