Foundation welcomes cash boost for intergenerational work

22 May 2009

The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation (MBF) welcomes the recent Government announcement of £5.5 million to generate wider interest in intergenerational work, in particular the reference to mentoring as an example of intergenerational activity which can have a profound effect on individual lives.

Bringing young people and older people together can create a mutually beneficial learning experience, building up trust and respect while contributing to greater community cohesion.

This programme brings together funding from Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office, Department of Health, Department of Children Schools and Families and Department of Work and Pensions highlighting the cross departmental commitment to this work. Most importantly all bids must involve third sector organisations ensuring that 50% of the funding is deployed within the third sector.

Steve Matthews, Chief Executive of MBF commented on the recent announcement:

"Mentoring and befriending are ideal activities which contribute to the intergenerational agenda. MBF supports over 3,000 projects nationally which potentially could partner local authorities to further the intergenerational agenda. I would like to encourage programmes to contact their local authority to discuss the potential for joint bids to bring generations together through mentoring and befriending".

Alan Hatton-Yeo, Chief Executive of the Beth Johnson Foundation reinforced this message and said:
"Beth Johnson Foundation have long advocated for the importance of intergenerational practice and welcomed the opportunity to be involved in the development of the funding proposal. We see this announcement as a major step forward in mainstreaming work that builds positive connections across the generations. Intergenerational mentoring and befriending can be seen as important activities within this that can bring real benefit to all involved."

MBF, as the national body for mentoring and befriending, is able to offer support to practitioners and local authorities and encourages good practice by awarding the Approved Provider Standard, the only national standard specifically designed for mentoring and befriending programmes.

We look forward to working with local authorities and programmes to help shape the future of their intergenerational mentoring and befriending programmes and in doing so raise the profile of volunteering in this area.

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