Something special happens when you bring different generations together!

We are proud to have successfully collaborated with many schools and colleges over the years but our most recent partnerships include:

Intergenerational Befriending:

Intergenerational connection runs throughout our befriending work. While the average age of our volunteers is around 43 and the average age of our scheme members is around 82, creating a significant generational gap, these relationships are often where some of the most meaningful learning and mutual understanding takes place. Alongside this, we also support a small number of younger volunteers. Where volunteers are under 18, such as Betty and Erin, befriending takes place in pairs to ensure safeguarding and shared support. Together, these approaches reflect our commitment to safe, thoughtful and enriching connections across generations.

Our work with Brighton College:

Our relationship with Brighton College began before Time to Talk Befriending was formally established and helped shape our early safeguarding and intergenerational befriending practice. For 7 years, we trained over 1000 sixth form students to visit scheme members in pairs and took part in shared community activities, creating meaningful connections across generations. Over time, listening closely to our scheme members, particularly during and after the pandemic, led us to adapt our approach. Many older people told us they preferred support from volunteers who better understood the realities of declining health, loss and bereavement. This learning continues to inform how we work today. While a structured partnership with Brighton College is not something we can pursue at present due to the increasing complexity of need, we remain grateful for what was shared and hold hope for future intergenerational work when the context allows. In the meantime, Brighton College Prep School often provide ‘Thinking of you’ cards at poignant times of the year like Easter and Christmas.

Brighton College and Time to Talk Befriending Life Stories Project:

Using the Bridging Ages model students were trained and equipped to become journalists in 2019-2021. They were matched with a Time to Talk Befriending scheme member throughout the academic year. Scheme members were encouraged to share stories about their lives which we then published. Examples of the Life Stories can be found here, click to view:
Anni, Derek, Vera and Tony.

Great Oaks and Little Acorns:

Great Oaks and Little Acorns was a much loved intergenerational partnership with Bee in the Woods Kindergarten, bringing older people and families with preschool children together to play, connect and spend time in nature. The project created gentle, joyful spaces where relationships could grow across generations and loneliness was reduced on both sides. Following the pandemic, the health and mobility of many of our scheme members declined significantly, meaning we were no longer able to run the project safely or inclusively. While the partnership had to come to a close, it remains a special chapter in our story and continues to inform how we think about intergenerational connection when circumstances allow. For further details about the impact of the pandemic on the health and wellbeing of our scheme members please check out our research.

Hove Park School

Whether it’s running a festive event on Christmas Day, hampers, attendance at school events, or responding to the pandemic by providing food donations and ‘thinking of you’ cards, our partnership with Hove Park School continues to be one we value here at Time to Talk Befriending.