Alan Hatton-Yeo, Chief Executive Officer of the Beth-Johnson-Foundation, UK and Coordinator of the European Map of Intergenerational Learning Intergenerational Learning and Sustainable Development was a special guest and keynote speaker at the conference

1. Intergenerational Learning and Sustainable
Development
Dr. Alan Hatton-Yeo M.B.E.
Chief Executive, Beth Johnson Foundation

2. The Beth Johnson Foundation established in 1972 to take an
evidence based approach to ageing
Older people as active, valued actors in their communities –
asset based approach
Centre for Intergenerational Practice
Linking Generations Northern Ireland
Generations Together Cymru
Generations Working Together Scotland
The European Map of Intergenerational Learning (EMIL)
The European Certificate of Intergenerational Learning

3. • Intergenerational Learning (IL) is defined by the European
Map of Intergenerational Learning (EMIL) as:
• “The way that people of all ages can learn together and from
each other. IL is an important part of Lifelong Learning, where
the generations work together to gain skills, values and
knowledge. Beyond the transfer of knowledge, IL fosters
reciprocal learning relationships between different
generations and helps to develop social capital and social
cohesion in our ageing societies. IL is one way of addressing
the significant demographic change we are experiencing
across Europe and is as a way of enhancing intergenerational
solidarity through intergenerational practice (IP).”
(http://www.emil-network.eu/

4. Intergenerational practice aims to bring people together in
purposeful, mutually beneficial activities which promote greater
understanding and respect between generations and
contributes to building more cohesive communities.
Intergenerational practice is inclusive, building on the positive
resources that the young and old have to offer each other and
those around them (Beth Johnson Foundation, 2001)

5. • Characteristics of IP
• Aims to bring people together in purposeful, mutually beneficial
activities
• Promotes greater understanding and respect between generations
• Contributes towards building more sustainable communities.
• Is inclusive and builds on the positive resources that the young and
old have to offer each other and those around them
• An effective way to address a number of issues such as
– building active communities
– promoting citizenship
– regenerating neighbourhoods
– addressing inequality

6. We suggest that the dynamic, vibrant, engaged, sustainable rural
community in the future would display a number of interrelated
characteristics:
• Identifying, utilising and optimising assets
• Achieving fairness for everyone
• Empowering local governance
• Increasing resources for community benefit
• Enjoying locally relevant services
• Enriching social capital and well-being
• Valuing local distinctiveness
• Developing reliable infrastructure
• Enhancing environmental capacity
• Supporting a dynamic local economy
Carnegie Enquiry on Sustainable Rural Development

7. So how does Intergenerational Learning contribute to
sustainability?
By developing practical ways to think about demographic
change and generational interdependency - Amztell the
Generational Village, Germany
Skills Exchange and learning together and from one another
Co-production between the generations to design their own
solutions - Urbivore
Economic stimulation Build It
Strengthening relationships across the Generations Arquivo do
Coa Portugal,

8. "No one is born a good citizen; no
nation is born a democracy. Rather,
both are processes that continue to
evolve over a lifetime."
-- Kofi Annan
www.bjf.org.uk www.emil-network.eu