The audience was made up of five generations of Brits, including toddlers and their mums, school children of all ages, adults with a passion for music and folks in their 70s and 80s looking for a fun day out to connect with others.
Everyone in the audience was taught a brand-new song, which they collectively learned and sang together in a joyous moment of togetherness that left the crowd buzzing with a sense of achievement and connection. Called The Song With No Name, the beautiful lyrics really spoke to all generations in the room
I am...
More than a parent, more than my age, more than a teacher, more than today
More than retired, more than a name
More than a child with a future to save
One step, two minds
Let's dream together, it's all in our hands
Reach out, stand by me
Together, we are more than we thought we could be
The Access All Ages event was organised by Intergenerational Music Making to coincide with the report of Intergenerational England’s ‘Divided Kingdom’ report, which reveals that the UK is more age segregated than ever before. Less than six per cent of children in the UK live near someone aged 65 or older, whilst just seven per cent of care home residents report regular interaction with anyone under the age of 30.
79 per cent of people in the UK believe that stronger connections between generations could significantly reduce loneliness and improve mental health outcomes. The Divided Kingdom report outlines a series of ambitious but achievable recommendations to deliver positive change.
Charlotte Miller, Co-Founder of Intergenerational England and Director of Intergenerational Music Making said: “The momentous Access All Ages event was a masterclass in using the power of music to connect generations. Around the UK there are similarly great pockets of intergenerational connection happening but not at scale or in a strategic way. We need to embed it culturally, socially, and politically."
Co-Founder Emily Abbott added: “Intergenerational solidarity isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’ but a necessity for building systems that are future proof. For a more connected, compassionate, and sustainable society, we must embed intergenerational solutions into the foundations of our nation.”