Intergenerational
Turtle Dove Cambridge also hosts its own community events, primarily with older people attending day centres and residential homes. Highlights include intergenerational tea dances and Christmas afternoon teas, which benefit both the young women and older attendees who may face challenges such as dementia or social isolation. These events also give young women a unique opportunity to develop new skills, build confidence, and gain a sense of purpose through their contributions to the community.
To further support their involvement, the young women are provided with information on dementia, enhancing their understanding and effectiveness at these workshops and events.
Attendee Quotes
“One of our members said he was completely blown away by the experience. He felt really positive about having the opportunity to talk with young people who were genuinely interested in him and his views. Living alone, he often feels very frightened and isolated, and he would never have openly spoken with young people before this experience. With no family nearby, mixing with younger people is a skill he felt he had lost.”
“The ladies I drove home from the Christmas Tea Party mentioned how lovely the Turtle Dove volunteers were – they were very grateful.”
“The Tea Dance at Ditchburn was thoroughly enjoyed by all our tenants. It was lovely for them to experience a new activity and meet people from outside our scheme. The event also gave us the chance to reminisce and discover things about our tenants we never knew! We look forward to working with everyone again in the future.”
“Being around young people made me feel young again!”
