United in learning 2023
Concept and aims
United in learning is a project that aims to incorporate, for the first time, two Scottish CRP’s working together through intergenerational learning experience visits to create a shared appreciation of young/old life skills and knowledge.
One of the aims was to have a better awareness of generational challenges and barriers broken down of perception fears, A fun friendly train experience, Educational learning about social media and crafting benefits, Understanding difference to improve society as a whole, Smiling faces & positive energy on our trains and good publicity for train operating companies, community rail and organisations.
Other aims included :
- An increase in passenger reach to use the trains.
- More confident travellers and More 1st time travellers.
- Good PR for Scottish railways.
- A completed set of TikTok videos to help promote CRPs
What happened
For the 1st Time in Scotland 2 CRPS worked together – Rail 74 CRP and 6VT CRP worked collaboratively to produce a two-visit experience for two local groups in each of our areas.
Chatty Crafters/Gardening Group at Eastfield community centre in Cambuslang 6VT youth café and CRP members in Edinburgh.
This visit encompassed train travel to the respective sites and a teaching experience with mutual learning take aways for both groups.
The crafters supported the young people’s knowledge of crafts/felting/knitting and talked through the experience of community garden growing.
6VT supported the older generation in producing a series of TikTok’s to be able to share with their community of the crafts they do to encourage others to join and break down the fear barriers of modern social platforms and smart phone usage.
The first visit was a visit for the crafters to 6VTs café by train in Easter time April 2023 allowing for some Chocolate bunny cheer and easter fun. By the end of the session all the young people had accomplished a goal eg knitting for the first time, sewing on a button, making a keyring, setting a table for lunch, welcoming & providing hospitality for their guests.
The return visit was the young guys travelling in August to spend sometime at the community garden in cambuslang and having a small drumming group teaching them some skills on the train.
On the sites we provided a local shared meal. It was a great chance to get to know each other, share stories, show caring and consideration to each other, support local businesses with local produce.
Results
Benefits of the project were :
- Better awareness of generational challenges and barriers broken down of perception fears.
- A fun friendly train experience.
- Educational learning about social media,crafting and music.
- An increase in passenger reach to use the trains.
- More confident travellers.
- More 1st time travellers.
- Understanding difference to improve society as a whole.
- Good PR for Scottish railways.
- Smiling faces & positive energy on our trains.
After discussion and consultation sessions held with two groups below there is a great sense of appreciation for developing new skills, building confidence to travel by train and sharing life knowledge and fun things that different generations offer.
Participants :
- Rail74 CRP Volunteers.
- 20 young people.
- Support staff for young people.
- 20 Chatty Crafters.
Outcomes achieved :
- Reducing inequalities.
- 50 young and older generation group of people learning new skills/experience.
- % of 1st time travellers on a train.
- 2 crps working together and sharing the benefits to wider CR network.
- % of people involved will come from the most deprived areas of cambuslang and Edinburgh to raise their aspiration for seeing outwith their communities.
- Improving health & wellbeing.
- Raising levels of confidence and learning new skills to be able to share with others.
- 40 people fed a healthy meal from local producers.
- A sense of achievement for all to produce a tiktok & craft item.
- Longer term network for the future of community rail and personal connections.