How often have you heard the phrase “I don’t understand young people these days”? Or perhaps you have a grandchild or know a young person who simply can not grasp your viewpoint as the older generation?
For teenagers and children, bridging the generation gap brings many benefits: it can motivate a willingness to talk with parents about problems, a willingness to be part of the family and an acceptance of differences in the family and in the community.Those teens with experience in intergenerational service activities such as visiting older adults often develop a sense of social responsibility that leads on to voluntary work and involvement in community projects.
Sue Harvey, 63, gets to see both sides of the age debate by volunteering for ACB and attending weekly sessions at a teenagers’ boxing club run by the Respect Project. Held at the Wicklea Youth Centre, St Anne’s, the project has resulted in extra facilities for young people in Brislington and St Anne's, while bridging communication gaps between young and older people.
Sue said: “I brought my granddaughter along to the first ever night of the club, hoping that boxing would help her overcome dyspraxia which affects her co-ordination. She was the only girl so I wasn’t quite sure how she’d feel, but she enjoyed it. Then I became more involved with the club after talking to Paula, a PCSO who works alongside our neighbourhood watch. We wanted to put an end to trouble on the streets - boxing is all about discipline and control, it releases stress while building confidence too.”
“Although my role at the club is to take names and the kids’ money, I’m determined to chat to them if I can.” Sue continues, “One rainy night a group of new lads came in but they didn’t want to join in. I knew the group had a reputation as troublemakers, hanging out as they did along one local back lane. One of my neighbours, who is 100, was really worried. After a chat, I found out that all they’d been doing was congregating. Anyhow I got into a relationship with them; a few weeks later they even noticed I’d had a haircut and were very complimentary about it.”
Aware that adult relationships give teenagers a sense of ‘I matter’, Sue (who also runs an older peoples’ luncheon club) adds: “I’m a great believer in getting people of all ages talking. It annoys me that the media can sometimes give such a negative impression of the young, for example stereotyping them as ‘hoodies’. At the luncheon club, teenagers help out with the washing-up, that’s not exactly a fun job for any age but the girls do it willingly. Community is all about ‘give respect, get respect’.”
Sarah Box
Coming soon - 'Part Two – Young People’s Perspective.'