Meeting Report: East Renfrewshire
Date: Friday 11th of September 2015
Venue: Williamwood High School, Eaglesham Rd,
Clarkston, East Renfrewshire G76 8RF
In attendance: Cheryl Ewing (GWT); Vivienne Middleton, Liz Rodger (ERC); Shirley Ashe (VAER);
Nichola Mortimer (Williamwood High School).
Apologies: Jeanne Martin (The Prince’s Trust); Mark Brand, Alison Meechan, Elaine Grogan, Alan
Stevenson, Cllr Mary Montague (ERC); Lorraine Bruce (The Richmond Fellowship); Lindsey Potter
(Barrhead High School).
1. Welcome and Introductions
Cheryl welcomed members to the meeting and provide some background on GWT and IG
practice.
2. GWT national update:
GWT’s programme outcomes for 2015-16 include:
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Older people are acknowledged as assets to their communities increasing their
participation and contribution
Member organisations, including those working with protected characteristics, develop
projects that use intergenerational approaches to challenge ageism
More local authorities, national public agencies & organisations adopt intergenerational
approaches to address the challenges of our ageing society and promote positive images of
older people
SCIO Status - We are delighted to announce that on the 29th July 2015, GWT were awarded
charity status and are now a fully-fledged Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
GWT Constitution – copies available on request
(section 4) Our charity purposes include:
o The promotion of intergenerational relationships to further the relief of those in
need by reason of age, ill-health, disability or other disadvantage.
o The promotion of equality and diversity
o The advancement of citizenship and community development
These are our three primary purposes however we also intend to work to deliver the
advancement of education and health and wellbeing.
(section 9) The structure of GWT consists of:o the GENERAL members - who are anyone who applies to join Generations
Working Together. These individuals elect their local network representatives as
voting members as described below in clause 16;
o the VOTING MEMBERS - who have the right to attend voting members'
meetings (including any annual general meeting) and have important powers
under the constitution; in particular, the voting members can appoint general
members to serve on the board and take decisions on changes to the
constitution itself;
o the BOARD - who hold regular meetings, and generally control the activities of
the organisation; for example, the board is responsible for monitoring and
controlling the financial position of the organisation.
(section 11) Qualifications for membership
Organisations involved in any aspect of intergenerational practice may apply for general
membership. An individual, aged 16 and over, who has an interest in improving relationships
across generations by using an intergenerational approach, may also apply for general
membership.
(section 13) Application for membership
o Any organisation/person who wishes to become a general member can sign up on line.
o Generations Working Together will maintain a list of all current general members by Local
network Area and only the registered members in an area can vote in the election for Local
Network representatives to serve as voting members.
(section 16) Register of voting members
o The general members of each Local Network shall elect 2 representatives to
be voting members (normally this would include the volunteer Local Network
Coordinator but this is subject to the Local Network general members
decision).
o The normal term of office for a voting member will be 2 years however people may
stand for re-election at the end of each term of office.
GWT successfully recruited a freelance P/T Local Network Development Officer, Lesley Hellon to
support up to 11 networks across the Highlands & Islands.
Date for your diary - GWT Conference, Wednesday 2nd March 2016 – University of Strathclyde,
Technology & Innovation Centre, 99 George St, Glasgow G1 1RD
http://www.strath.ac.uk/research/technologyandinnovationcentre/
Any ideas/suggestions for workshops, speakers and information village. GWT would like to
showcase local intergenerational projects, so please get in touch.
IG TrainingThe training is split into three sections:
1. An introduction to Intergenerational Practice
2. Bringing generations together
3. Planning and evaluating Intergenerational Practice
Over the past four years training has been provided free of charge however unfortunately due to
funding cutbacks this year we have had to introduce a modest fee of £30 per person to cover our
costs.
Livingston 2 October 2015
Lochgilphead 21 October 2015
Stornoway 29th October 2015
Arbroath 23rd November 2015
Inverurie 24th November 2015
Elgin 25th November 2015
Greenock 4th December 2015
Scotland's Urban Past (SUP) is a five-year nationwide project with the communities of Scotland’s
towns and cities. Anyone can get involved and start investigating urban environments and how
they have changed over time. SUP encourages groups and individuals of all ages to discover and
share the fascinating stories of Scotland’s towns and cities through community-led projects. As
every project idea stems from a local community, the scale and subject of projects varies, ranging
from a building, street or neighbourhood, to an entire town or city. To help you to develop your
project ideas and bring them to fruition, SUP provides bespoke training, access to essential
resources and continued project support.
A project can be:
 a short-term, one-off event such as a talk, workshop or another small-scale result involving
just your group members
 a medium-term piece of work involving others' contributions, such as a small publication,
short performance or Doors Open Day event
 a longer-term (anything up to a year) endeavour that involves more planning, time and
commitment from others, such as a festival, multimedia creation or larger-scale
publication.
Does your community group or society have a project idea, or do you need inspiration? Let us
know by contacting the SUP team at sup@rcahms.gov.uk or on +44 (0)131 651 6870.
Get Set for Community Action is a new programme from the Get Set family whose goals are to:
• Strengthen relationships between young people and their communities
• Make those communities healthier, more active and more cohesive places
• Promote the Olympic Values
(friendship, excellence and respect) and the Paralympic Values (courage, determination, equality
and inspiration)
WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
• Get Set for Community Action uses the power of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and their
assets, to engage, inspire and motivate young people.
• Thousands of 14-19 year olds – ‘Action
Leads’ – will work in teams across the UK, building relationships with local community groups to
plan and deliver at least two projects each, in the run-up to the Rio 2016 Olympic and
Paralympic Games.
Programme will be driven by 100 Champion schools supporting and engaging with 500 secondary
schools across the UK.
National Adult Achievement Award – were launched by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and
Lifelong Learning back in May at Newbattle Abbey College and are now being piloted. These new
awards, modelled on the Youth Achievement Awards, will accredit learning for adults in a wide
range of contexts, including community settings, colleges, workplaces and volunteering.
Newbattle Abbey College is the owner of the awards which were developed by a national steering
group.
The Adult Achievement Awards have been credit-rated at SCQF levels 3, 4 and 6 by Napier
University and will be piloted by adult groups from different sectors across Scotland in the coming
months.
GWT will keep you informed of any updates.
http://scqf.org.uk/adult-achievement-awards-launched/
Young Start funding opportunity – new projects funded for 2015 please contact Cheryl directly if
you would like a print out stating all projects funded over the past 3 years.
New Website - The Beth Johnson Foundation is a national charity dedicated to making a future for
all ages. https://www.bjf.org.uk/ Check out the link from our colleagues Linking Generations
Northern Ireland and see what they are doing across the water.
Fairer Scotland Autumn Events
http://www.voluntaryactionfund.org.uk/latest/
Complementing the Fairer Scotland Engagement Fund there are a number of local events across
Scotland.
The Scottish Government, working with Democratic Society in Scotland, has designed a number of
Planning Events across Scotland to prioritise ideas and policies that the Scottish Government can
implement to create a fairer Scotland. These Events compliment the Fairer Scotland Engagement
Fund.
The Planning Events are designed to allow a representative audience to hear, discuss, prioritise
and take action on ideas to create a Fairer Scotland. The Scottish Government wants to hear
about what needs to change and things that can be done differently to make people’s lives better.
The priorities that come from these Planning Events will feed into a final Fairer Scotland Forum in
December 2015. The Fairer Scotland Forum will host a representative audience made up of
people from across the country who will work with policy makers, experts, and political
representatives to create a series of recommendations on how we can all work to create a Fairer
Scotland.
For details of funding for engagement events please see
http://generationsworkingtogether.org/resources/launch-of-the-fairer-scotland-engagement-fund
Starbuck Youth Action Fund
http://generationsworkingtogether.org/resources/starbucks-youth-action
Walking Communities
http://generationsworkingtogether.org/news/living-streets-walkable-communities-workshops-0309-2015
Cycle Communities
http://generationsworkingtogether.org/news/cycle-friendly-community-08-09-2015
3. Round Table Project Updates
- Digital inclusion projects have been running with ERC and it is reported that the quiz is running
well. Pupils from Williamwood High School have been filming and interviewing with participants to
capture the journey. The Quiz Final will take place on November 27th in Largs.
- Some discussion was had around capturing the value of networking and being able to create
successful partnerships (like the IG Quiz). Cheryl reminded the group that GWT are having a
Starter Conversation around Protected Characteristics (for info on Protected Characteristics please
see link below) and that GWT are also involved in a Social Capital Pilot which network members
may get involved with.
http://generationsworkingtogether.org/events-training/starter-conversation-disabilities-22-092015
http://www.lawscot.org.uk/about-us/equality-and-diversity/general-information/what-are-theprotected-characteristics/
- The Year of Young People 2018, was discussed and Cheryl signposted the group to the following
link for more details.
http://2018.scot/
- Shirley raised awareness of the Melo Velo project; Set up by service users at the Barrhead
Centre, day centre for adults with additional support needs, the Melo Velo Club is a unique cycle
and repair project staffed by adults who attend the centre. It also gives people with a disability in
East Renfrewshire a unique opportunity to loan and go for a spin on specialist cycles including
trikes, a hand-cycle and Scotland's only direct wheelchair access tandems.
http://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/article/4745/Cycle-workshop-shortlisted-for-national-award
- The issue of ERC meals on wheels service being stopped, was also raised. Cheryl provided insight
into the Meal Makers Project which allows for meal shares, although not currently running in East
Renfrewshire, the project is gauging interest. https://www.mealmakers.org.uk/
Some discussion around how IG work could help fill the service gap, the idea that school kitchens
could be used in the afternoon to prepare meals, whispers of similar projects have been heard and
Cheryl will try and track down details for the next meeting in East Renfrewshire.
- Shirley also gave insight into the Stich in Time project run by ERC. ‘Stitch Through Time', run by the
Kirkton Service, day opportunities for older people, is aiding older people to teach local school children the
art of knitting.
- VM reported Grandparents wanting to learn Gaelic as their grandchildren are learning at school,
VM suggested contacting Clan Gaelic to invite to future meetings with the possibility of setting up
IG projects. Also that the Gaelic development officer for East Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire and
Inverclyde is Alan Campbell. Cheryl shared details on the Grandbuddies project running in South
Lanarkshire.
http://generationsworkingtogether.org/networks/case-studies/grandbuddies-project
- Cheryl gave information of IG writing project, bringing the generations of communities across
Fort William & Lochaber, suggesting this could help bring the Gaelic speaking communities of East
Renfrewshire Together. Discussion was had around this matter, and it should be followed up at
future meetings.
- Conversation on hearing loss and deafness developed and Cheryl signposted the group to Action
on Hearing Loss website, who have resources available that may fit in with IG work. Such as
fingerspelling guides and fundraising packs, with activities around hearing loss.
http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/s2s/fingerspelling.htm
http://www.actiononhearingloss.org.uk/get-involved/do-your-own-fundraising/schools-andyouth-groups/hear-us-out.aspx
- Shirley suggested inviting along Interfaith Committee to the next meeting
- Some members shared positive experience of loan kits available from Glasgow Open Museum
Resource Centre. Full details of kits available can be found online. The have proven a great way to
get the generations communicating and starting off conversations.
http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/about-glasgow-museums/open-museum/about-theOpen%20Museum/resources/Pages/default.aspx
–Shirley offered pupils the opportunity to volunteer filming and recording on Seniors Together
projects in order to capture events
- Nichola provided some info on the T in the Street a project in partnership with Williamwood High
School and The Richmond Fellowship. With some of the visitors to the school having dementia
Cheryl suggested looking at the dementia resource for schools by East Dunbartonshire Council and
also Dementia Friends.
http://generationsworkingtogether.org/resources/dementia-awareness-schools-pack
https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/
- Liz gave update that Rouken Glen is hosting a Reminiscing event in the form of an exhibition in
the park pavilion. Kirkton Services have been involved, and also Primary Schools, being asked to
create art works of how the think the park may have looked. The Park is keen to collect more
recordings of memories/stories of the park. VM suggested contacting Gaelic Support Officer as she
is aware of service users reminiscing over park. SA passed on details of Royal Engineers repair
vehicles – Italian communities. Cheryl suggested getting in contact with Scotland’s Urban Past to
see if they have any information or support to assist the project.
- Liz also gave information on Archaeology Scotland workshops 1st week of November for approx.
20/30 participants looking at how to clean, present and curate objects. Liz is looking for
participants.
- Pupils from Williamwood High School ended the meeting with a powerpoint presentation which
included film snippets which they recorded from both younger and older members involved in the
IG Quiz. The pupils are thoroughly enjoying being able to document the journey and believe this
experience has made a successful impact on their education and employment opportunities.
Date of Next Meeting: