Hilary from Generations Together went through some facts and statistics for the project, a £5.5 million government scheme to promote and encourage meaningful interaction between under 25s and over 50s.

The aim was to engage and befit both generations so they could increase their skills, improve their health and well-being, reduce negative perceptions and impact on social issues.

£398,000 of funding was secured to deliver the programme, Hammersmith being 1 of 12 other Councils to do so across the UK.

The primary themes were volunteer matching, active citizens, social enterprise hubs, reporting and promoting and "2getherwecan".

400 volunteers of different ages were recruited across the last year.

All projects have been measuring skills improvements, reduction in isolation, changes in perceptions, accreditation and increased career progression plus lots of personal benefits for the participants.

There have been 1506 beneficiaries, 68% of which are from priority groups - homeless, disabled, unemployed, and there was a good balance of younger and older people - 46% younger, 54% older.

18 jobs have been gained out of the process.

Future Aims

To increase partnerships in the voluntary sector leading to shared bids, increased intergenerational focused projects and wider cross-generational volunteer activity.

Intergenerational practice to be incorporated in to organisations' governance and delivery.

Increased partnerships between the 3rd Sector and the Council so that resources of both sectors can be fully utilised.

The Legacy

Wealth of experience gained by organisations.

Good Practice Guide - launched today - this will be posted on an intergenerational website to be launched soon.

Hilary handed over to Adam from the Lyric Theatre, who welcomed the room and explained the Lyric is known for two things - work on stage and our work with young people.  It's important to them that it's responsive to and informed by local people, so they jumped at the chance of working on an intergenerational project, bringing people from different backgrounds in to this democratic civic space.

Adam introduced Elliott and Marilyn from the Lyric's Generation Together poetry project.  Practitioner Elliott explained how at the start of the project the younger ones were on one side and the older on the other, but by the end they were working together.  He ended up being inspired by every person on the project, which had interesting age and experience divides and resulted in beautiful pieces written about the spirit of the project - coming together.

He read a lovely piece by participant Anderson St John Ingleton.

Participant Marilyn read out the first poem she has ever written - "Just Because" - and said it was great to see the emerging talent of all the young people, thanking everyone who nurtured and saw them through the experience.

Bill Potts from the Outside Edge Theatre Company took the stage and talked about their play "A High Price To Pay", introducing several performances taken from the production, which is about a young woman who has just left treatment centre for drug misuse, she's estranged from her father and comes out of the centre to meet her father who has problems with alcohol misuse.  All participants of the project have experience of substance misuse and the snippets we saw were very powerful and moving.

Sean Purcell, Head of Learning & Development at Striding Out explained their mission to develop new business for the area.  They were challenged to create three projects for Generations Together and have currently created seven and hope to reach ten.  Alongside creating new projects they have been supporting existing companies and social enterprises in the area.

He introduced Matthew Barrett, MD and founder of Breakout Media, who described his company's aim to support ex-offenders, helping them get in to education, training and employment, and delivering professional industry training as well as work experience in a commercial environment and bridging the digital divide.

Matthew talked about the long road to get Breakout Media up and running - he was released from prison in 2007 and secured a job in a digital agency when he got out after getting experience of digital marketing when he was inside.  Striding Out allowed him not just to have a job but to start a business after a long period of unemployment.  The organisation now employs young people who work hard and inspire each other.  He wants Breakout Media to become the digital version of the Big Issue, and is currently running workshops about social networking for employment and social networking for musicians, to enable them to become business owners rather than trying to get signed to a record label.

Next up the Amici Dance Company performed live, their work is based on improvisation and creativity and went down a storm with the assembled crowd.

Harry Phibbs, Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, made a short speech, saying it's terrific that Hilary and the team have done well with their targets but "of course, they're paid" so thanked the volunteers, who he described as "the most heroic people here".

"No good deed goes unpunished", he said, thanking them for keeping at it despite all the paperwork, CRB checks etc.  "We've seen the most tremendous energy" and "if we want to have a big society or a big community we shouldn't be stuck in the ghetto of our age bracket - there's a huge benefit from working with each other, learning from each other".

Over 400 volunteers have been involved, which is a terrific success.  He hopes the schemes will continue and the social enterprises will flourish and become independently financed and go on to great success.  He closed by saying that the council want to encourage things, reduce bureaucracy and encourage the voluntary sector., and he's tremendously impressed with the Generations Together project.

Finally the Mayor, Adronie Alford, once again thanked the volunteers and asked everyone to give them a round of applause.