The Generations Uniting Through Movement (GUM) project partners have completed one of the first steps that will ensure the successful implementation of the GUM Programme: 'Research of the successful implementation of intergenerational collaboration projects'. The purpose of this research is to prepare the foundation for a sustainable and innovative Generations Uniting Through Movement (GUM) programme. In order to achieve this goal, it was crucial to do some desk research to identify the prerequisites for intergenerational collaboration and existing models found in international literature.

Led by Stichting Hanzehogeschool Groningen (Hanze), the GUM project partners ISCA, Youth Sport Trust International, Sports Union of Slovenia, BG Be Active, Deporte para la Educación y la Salud, and Azur Sport Santé, identified a selection best practices in the field of intergenerational collaboration on physical activity initiatives. They investigated what makes these examples 'good', the barriers they had to overcome, their main outcomes, any change/impact achieved, and behaviour change patterns noticed after the interventions. Hanze University conducted an analysis of 12 selected good examples with contribution from the partners. At the same time, they included the entire collection (39 examples) at the end of the research report as an appendix.

We believe that this study will constitute a solid resource for the successful and effective implementation of the GUM programme. We will make frequent use of this study in the upcoming activities of our project, such as establishing a European platform and network, developing a training tool for physical activity practitioners and testing our program in 5 pilot countries (UK, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Spain and France).

Download the report below and find out more at https://www.generationsmove.org/

Photos: Centre for Ageing Better (Unsplash)