To step inside Belong Chester is to arrive in a caring community with a palpable atmosphere of fun, curiosity and, at the same time, respect. In most cases, it will not be long before visitors come across nursery children, who are regularly seen dining with Belong residents in the Bistro. They love to listen to their stories and astound everyone with their empathy – and table manners. They will ask about ‘grandfriends’ who are absent, and it is rare to hear a cry or raised voice.
It is fair to say that the Nursery in Belong has surprised even the staunchest advocates of the idea with just how naturally the relationships between young and old have flourished, bringing joy and a sense of purpose to senior members of the community and remarkable developments in young learners.
Belong Chester is the first care village in the UK to incorporate a fully integrated nursery, where children and residents come together daily to have fun learning and playing together. Since opening, it has shown clear benefits of intergenerational living both for older residents and nursery children, as well as learnings for anyone looking to replicate these advantages.
Partnership working
The Nursery in Belong is the culmination of five years of collaborative planning with our partners, Ready Generations, the award-winning intergenerational charity which operates the nursery.
A Belong intergenerational practice lead works alongside village and nursery teams to plan, co-ordinate and evaluate a rich curriculum for both children and older adults, called The Mirrored Care and Learning Framework. This allows older people to learn alongside children whilst also becoming mentors and educators, sharing their wisdom and knowledge whilst building meaningful relationships and connections.
There are plenty of opportunities for informal interaction around the village, or older people may choose to join some of the planned intergenerational experiences, which range from weekly multi-generational choir sessions to storytelling, and from ‘dough discos’ (exercise sessions involving play doh) to ‘prambles’ (a walk involving prams).
Weekly ‘Repair Shop’ sessions involve residents helping children to upcycle household items, teaching an important lesson about sustainability and a ‘make do and mend’ mentality – as well as practical skills, such as how to use power tools.
Hub of the community
Activities are supplemented by projects facilitated by partnerships with external groups, including schools, theatres and libraries, as well as the local Grosvenor Museum, which supported a Living Lives Together project running over several weeks and involved role play and dressing up as well as children and older people painting portraits of each other. This led to an art exhibition with portraits and associated photographs displayed around the village.
One factor behind the successful integration of the nursery has been the way in which the village model lends itself to these kinds of intergenerational opportunities. With a village centre including an entertainment venue, creative studio, library, garden room and bistro, there are a range of spaces available to host intergenerational sessions, while also leaving other spaces for those who choose not to participate.
Intelligent design
Intergenerational design features have been incorporated throughout these spaces, with high-quality seating for people of all ages and free-flow access to the secure nursery and residents’ gardens to allow for spontaneous experiences, such as planting, weeding and just enjoying the sunshine together.
Indoors, colour schemes, furniture fittings and resources have been carefully selected to be accessible and respectful for all age groups. Flooring and lighting in the nursery spaces have been chosen to maintain a calm and peaceful environment for both children and older people.
Diverse community
The village community incorporates people with a range of abilities, from those requiring nursing support in our 24-hour care household settings to more independent customers living in our apartments, as well as day visitors from the wider community who access the village facilities or our day care service.
Around two thirds of Belong residents are living with a dementia diagnosis and one of the remarkable features of the intergenerational environment is the ability for people with dementia to connect with children and young people through play or storytelling. They communicate in a way which may escape them when interacting with peers.
Events are advertised through a bi-monthly ‘What’s on’ programme of events and activities, which helps to bring the wider community into the village, reducing feelings of isolation and offering a sense of belonging and connection.
Renewed purpose
Residents who move into the village, including those living with dementia, are exhibiting improvements in physical and mental wellbeing and reporting how the nursery has enriched their lives and given them new purpose and meaning. Those who initially said the nursery was a lovely idea, but would not get involved personally, are now regular and enthusiastic attendees at intergenerational events.
This manifests in greater motivation to engage in physical activity, including walking longer and further when they go ‘prambling’ and taking part in dance and movement sessions. Colleagues report that being around children is making people living with dementia more relaxed. By supporting the children’s learning through such things as storytelling, reading, sharing memories and teaching simple skills, there is improved cognitive functioning and mental wellbeing.
It also caters for the needs created by changing family dynamics. Many people living at Belong Chester are a distance away from children and grandchildren, so they welcome the opportunity to interact with the children and their families. Similarly, parents of children attending the nursery have relocated for work opportunities from places such as India, Spain, Nigeria and Ireland and do not have older relatives close by, so they value the sustained friendships with residents.
Measuring the impact
Data since opening has been overwhelmingly positive, including feedback from parents and residents’ families.
Customer surveys show that of the people living independently in an apartment at the village, 82% join in intergenerational experiences, with 36% taking part weekly. Over 80% of apartment residents report that both planned and spontaneous intergenerational interactions are changing their lives for the better, with their families also commenting on the difference children are making to their loved ones’ wellbeing. Reductions in isolation and loneliness have also been significant.
Interest in this pioneering work is growing, nationally and internationally. Last year, The Nursery in Belong won the LaingBuisson Award for Innovation in Care, followed by the Development and Innovation Award at the 2024 Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards, alongside other international recognition and media coverage. In turn, this has led to visits from industry professionals, including from the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy, with more high-profile visits planned.
Looking ahead
As a research setting, the nursery works alongside several academic partners, including Northumbria University and the new Centre for Ageing and the Life Course at Liverpool University to explore the benefits of the approach for children, residents and their families, as well as early years and care workforces.
The intention is for these partnerships to build on existing work and support the growth and sharing of knowledge, understanding and expertise. Potentially, this may include the rollout of additional nurseries as we look to incorporate intergenerational design more broadly, and assist everyone to live fulfilling lives, no matter their age or health.
What is your experience of introducing intergenerational relationships in your care setting? Leave a comment on this feature or join the conversation to share your thoughts.
Martin Rix is Chief Executive at Belong.
Email: [email protected] X: @BelongVillages