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Teenage mentors working with older people to help with their computer skills, grandparents going back to school to help youngsters in need of special support – these are two examples of the intergenerational mentoring and befriending work praised by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Mr Brown met with volunteers recommended by MBF. Andrew Gardner (17) and Asish Aryal (18) give their spare time to work as intergenerational mentors with Sixty Plus in the Kensington and Chelsea area of London.  Asish said:

“I feel very positive knowing that I helped to make her life very much easier with her computer.

Andrew said:

“Being a computer mentor has definitely made a positive difference to me.  Not only have I discovered I can do things that I didn’t think I could do before, but it is really satisfying when I see that what I have taught is being used and makes her life much easier.”

The Prime Minister spoke with high regard for the “unsung local heroes” involved in social action:

“when and wherever it takes place.  I want to use 24/7 as a day to say thank you to all those who work so tirelessly for social change.  We don’t report enough on the good things that people do – the volunteers we have in so many areas.” 

The work of the older person in mentoring young people and thus making a huge contribution towards bridging the generation gap,  was also recognised.

Peter Hope (66) and Trevor Williams (78) are part of a team of mentors who give support to children in Years Five and Six in local primary schools and going through transition to secondary school.  Both volunteer for Kingston Upon Thames’ Age Concern Learning Mentor Project.

MBF says it is encouraging to see more and more people across the generations supporting each other through mentoring or befriending programmes.

Read full press release