East London Cares

For four years, East London Cares brought older and younger neighbours together to reduce loneliness and intergenerational polarisation in Hackney and Tower Hamlets. We closed in 2023, but will continue to share stories of connection and community, to help people feel part of our changing world rather than left behind by it. Visit our legacy website, and learn more about why it matters so much to build belonging in times of challenge and change: www.eastlondoncares.org.uk

🚀 Designing for intergenerational connection: An East London Cares story 💌 Download the storybook and resources: https://lnkd.in/epkXjeGw Today we launch a #storybook, sharing a snapshot of the collaboration between myself and East London Cares to bring younger and older neighbours together in an urban setting. In it you can find insights around cultural challenges such as stigma and free downloadable resources such as Chatter Matters, a co-designed card deck to support with conversation across ages 🎲 📖 18 months on, and a lot has changed. Tragically The Cares Family is no longer operational, but the lessons from this project live on, and hopefully the resources and insights can serve as a springboard for others working to build intergenerational community. Social fractures in the UK are particularly visible between generations, where housing costs, technological change and disappearing community spaces are just some elements of a manufactured divide between older and younger people – often reinforced by media narratives and stereotypes. But healthy relationships across generations are a vital ingredient for a cohesive society - and one which is more creative, compassionate and resilient. Take a look: https://lnkd.in/epkXjeGw 💡 🗞️

In 2023, Innovation Consultant and Service Designer, Savannah Fishel, worked with East London Cares to review how more intergenerational connection could be fostered in east London. More than 12 months after the completion of Savannah's work, she has now published a blog on the East London Cares legacy website introducing her 53-page Storybook and a new 'Chatter Matters' deck of conversation cards – accessible and useable by all who want to help bring older and younger people together where they are. You can read Savannah's blog introducing her work here: https://lnkd.in/eFVUBfEa You can download the Storybook of learning and design here: https://lnkd.in/ed9Ejxpn And you can access the 'Chatter Matters' cards to help forge connection between older and younger people wherever you are: https://lnkd.in/eRd_ya_5 Although East London Cares is no longer operational, it's wonderful that Savannah has shared these resources so that more people can build connection, community and belonging across generations. Thank you, Savannah, for your work and your message that 'healthy relationships across generations are a vital ingredient for a cohesive society – and one which is more creative, compassionate and resilient'.