The Company of Elders: its who we are and what we deliver.
We measure our impact in units of connection
Summary of delivery and impact at the end of our second year of programmes (September 2023 - August 2024), with figures for our pilot first year in brackets.
GrandFriend Volunteers 31 (year 1= 22)
Total programme sessions 113 (year 1= 35)
Total unique GF Volunteer attendances at programme sessions 352 (year 1= 144)
Total social events organised by the charity 10 (year 1= 5)
Total unique GF Volunteer attendances at social events 104 (year 1= 35)
Total units of Meaningful Intergenerational Connection Value 1542 (year 1= 377)
Total units of Meaningful Volunteer Peer-to-Peer Connection Value 788 (year 1= 249)
Participation
Participatory communication with our local community has informed every stage of our charity’s development: For at least three years running up to the launch of GrandFriends the founder had conversations in the neighbourhood with local elders, families, teachers, business owners and other third sector professionals to understand peoples' thoughts and experience of intergenerational loneliness and isolation of elders.
We have regular communication between volunteers and staff on the phone and in person.
We have a Grandfriends’ steering group, where we meet to share successes, challenges and reflections with volunteers. It meets termly.
Our trustees hold three board meetings a year plus ad hoc management meetings.
Everybody's insights are always welcomed and valued!
Evaluation
Grandfriends complete bespoke quantitative and qualitative questionnaires at the start of their time as volunteers to gather and analyse their thoughts and feelings about intergenerational loneliness and the role of elders in our community. These surveys are reviewed by the GrandFriends after approximately a year of participation to measure benefit, which has been substantial already.
We also ask for regular verbal and written (using online survey forms) feedback from all other participants; teachers and school staff (eg dining hall staff, TAs, Governors); the children and young people who attend our programmes, their parents/guardians and all other stakeholders.
Testimonies
"The children are so interested in a nonjudgmental way. One of them was asking about my hearing aid, why it was squeaking, and we talked about it in a way that felt natural and easy. It's a pleasure to watch them learn through simple curiosity.”
GrandFriend
"A group of girls beckoned me over for lunch and they said ‘‘we love the GrandFriends so much.” I asked why and they said “You are just different, not so strict as the teachers."
I think it is because we don’t have the authoritarian role the staff and parents have, and we have more time to have slower conversations. It is a much softer role”.
GrandFriend
“It's been such a long time since school has been part of my life – my children are in their 50s – and I have missed out on the primary school stage of my grandchildren who are abroad. I do like spending time with the children. I’ve been amazed at how peaceful and quiet the school is, as a retired teacher it has been so nice for me to see"
GrandFriend
"All the teachers can see a huge improvement in the confidence, vocabulary and engagement with reading in the children who come to the GrandFriends Library Sessions. We wish we had more time to read with the children individually, and so do many of the parents, so it is wonderful that the GrandFriends can answer this need"
Mrs R, Literacy Lead and Key Stage 1 teacher.
The GrandFriends are the most wonderful addition to our school family in so many ways. The lunchtimes when GrandFriends are in school is calm and sociable. They have become part of the whole school community, coming along by special invitation to our play rehearsals, communion celebration and summer fair. The children love our GrandFriends and it is a fantastic intergenerational project.
Mrs B, Co Head Teacher
“There is normally a handful of children who are at the edge of things, and want to talk to the adults in the playground because they don’t always know how to play with children their own age, or are feeling left out. Now they have the GrandFriends to talk to and are more relaxed, and growing in confidence."
Mrs B, Playground supervisor
"The GrandFriends have become a comforting and integral part of the landscape of these children's childhoods. They talk about the GrandFriends all the time, and get such reward from spending time with such calm, kind people."
Dr M, Parent and School Governor
"As a family we all look forward to the Sunday Socials, for different reasons. The kids love seeing the familiar GrandFriends out of school, and as parents it is unusual for us to have relaxed time to talk to such interested people who are more grown up than us! We all always come away looking forward to the next one".
Guests at The Sunday Socials.
"I have been studying in Bath for two years so far, and in that time have only been able to afford to go back home to America once. I think about my family often, and it is hard to be away from them. The Sunday Socials have bought me real pleasure. Having tea with the GrandFriends makes me feel much better, it fills a gap in my life here."
Undergrad Student Guest at The Sunday Socials.
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