6 Week Intergenerational Music & Movement Programme
In 2019 Holistic Harmonies worked with Clare McCarroll, an older person’s specialist physiotherapist, to run a programme of intergenerational music and movement sessions in a nursing home in Liverpool. The programme engaged residents, alongside local parents and their pre-school children in six free one hour-long sessions incorporating familiar songs and accessible dance movements. The intention of the programme was to bring benefits to the residents who are often isolated, to encourage movement, positive feelings, and to provide an opportunity to allow for social connections to occur between generations.
In order to understand the impact of the programme on participants, Holistic Harmonies worked with Shortwork to gather qualitative findings of the benefits of involvement from the prospective residents, parents, children, session leaders and nursing home staff, as well as the challenges encountered along the way.
The evaluation supports previous studies highlighting the benefits of involvement in intergenerational sessions for young children and older adults. These include fun and enjoyment, increased activity and movement, life enhancing social interactions, and a sense of purpose and of making a positive contribution to others.

The Plan
What?
We are currently applying for funding to roll out our 6 week Music & Movement Programme across Care Homes in Liverpool. We are building a business plan in order to make this a sustainable venture.
When?
We are hoping to bring some outdoor programmes to a few select care homes during the summer of 2021 and begin a larger scale project in 2022.
Who?

We are looking for:
Care Homes to partner with
Nurseries, Children's Centres and Mum's and Toddler groups to partner with
Social Prescribing teams to link with
GP's to work with us for signposting
How?
We are working with numerous organisations and associations to bring this programme to life:
Together With Music
Intergenerational Music Making
Liverpool Cares
Care Merseyside
Kindred
Wellbeing Liverpool
Healthwatch Liverpool
