Dementia specialist Belong and early years educators Ready Generations accepted the Development and Innovation Award for The Nursery in Belong Chester.

Since opening in 2022, the village has outperformed expectations. Parents of nursery children laud the relationship between the older community and their offspring, citing developments in the latter’s language abilities, emotional intelligence, and social skills. 

Among the many intergenerational experiences that feature in the daily life of residents, tenants, and children are shared mealtimes, storytelling, arts, ceramics, exercise, and ‘prambles’ – rambling with pushchairs around the neighbouring canal. Its choir, the Sankofa Songsters, is well-known for its local performances, and a new repair workshop sees residents teaching children how to use tools on a workbench.

A research nursery, its Mirrored Curriculum Framework has been developed and researched by Ready Generations in conjunction with academics from the University of Northumbria. The charity also works with several other universities to explore the benefits of intergenerational living and to develop a blueprint for the future roll-out of nurseries within older people’s settings.

Belong chief executive Martin Rix said: “We’re honoured to have our intergenerational community recognised with a 3rd Sector Care Award. Belong Chester and The Nursery in Belong really push the boundaries of social care. After years of research and planning, to see our vision come to life and the relations between customers and the nursery children flourish every day, is something truly special.”

Sue Egersdorff, co-founder of Ready Generations, added: “We are incredibly proud to receive this award. We believe what we have created is the way forward for how communities live together and we’re very excited to see what the future holds.”