Happiness Projects Create Sweet Connections

Five projects established to bring older and younger people together safely to enjoy moments of childlike happiness are underway across the Leeds district.

 

Each project is funded through the HARIBO Happiness Fund, which is supported by the UK’s leading confectionery manufacturer and managed by Leeds Community Foundation as part of their commitment to working with communities to have the most impact. Unity Does MAAter, East Street Arts, Guiseley Community Foundation, Hunslet Initiative and St Vincent’s Centre Leeds are coordinating intergenerational activities that enable people to live happier and more fulfilled lives.

 

Sharing life stories from the ‘Windrush’ generation, who arrived in the UK from Caribbean countries, through interviews and podcasts with young people, Unity Does MAAter is using technology to encourage relationship building between generations.

 

Exploring growing and the environment is helping create moments of surprise and play for the older and younger residents of Burmantofts and Lincoln Green. Here, East Street Arts is providing a rare opportunity for collaboration across generations, languages, and cultures, helping individuals to see the place they live through each other’s eyes.

 

Guiseley Community Foundation are combining the wisdom and experience of the elderly with the energy and enthusiasm of youth. The project aims to create experiences, impart knowledge and skills that young people will remember and older people will enjoy sharing.

 

The Hunslet Initiative is facilitating letter swaps. Letter writing will help to reduce the isolation of older individuals. At the same time, children will become aware of other people’s situations and learn from their life experiences.

 

St Vincent’s Centre Leeds is establishing a volunteering buddy system. Older and younger volunteers are working together on specific projects and activities, whether this is focused on arts, crafts, or fitness.

 

Jon Hughes, Managing Director at HARIBO, said: “We are proud to be in a position to showcase those benefiting from the HARIBO Happiness Fund and want to say a huge thank you to Leeds Community Foundation for helping to make this happen.

 

“Each project has created a programme of activity that helps address local needs in a fun, friendly and creative way. While distinctly different, they all have the same goal, to provide much-needed support to our communities through proactive and positive activities that reduce loneliness and isolation.

 

“We are confident that there will continue to be a great deal of fun and laughter with each project and that every person that engages with the programme will indeed experience moments of childlike happiness.”

 

Kate Hainsworth, CEO at Leeds Community Foundation, says: “We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Haribo to support them, as a global organisation to invest in community projects, which will have significant impact on their local communities. We look forward to hearing more about the impact of the Happiness Fund as the projects develop and continuing to work with Haribo to demonstrate the importance of investing locally.”

 

The HARIBO Happiness Fund supports initiatives that bring older (50+ years old) and younger (up to 25 years old) people together in a safe way, considering Covid-19 and ongoing measures.

 

The fund aims to bring people together to take part in new and engaging activities, those that they would not normally access, experience, or enjoy. The ultimate goal is to strengthen communities and promote better connections across age ranges.