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INTERGENERATIONAL CARE VILLAGE


SCOOPS TOP AWARD Chester is celebrating as its intergenerational care village, with integrated children’s nursery, has been recognised at the 3rd Sector Care Awards. Dementia specialist Belong and early years educators Ready Generations took the award for their home to both older people and children who live and learn together.


The not-for-profit partners proudly accepted the Development and Innovation Award for The Nursery in Belong Chester, as ceremony host, actress Sally Lyndsay congratulated the teams in front of industry leaders from across social care.


Since opening in 2022, the City Road village has outperformed expectations, with older residents describing their home as their ‘garden of Eden’, while their relatives note the joy the children inject into village life. Parents of nursery children laud the relationship between the older community and their offspring, citing remarkable developments in the latter’s language abilities, emotional intelligence and social skills.


Among the many intergenerational experiences that feature in the daily life of residents, tenants and children are shared mealtimes, storytelling, arts, ceramics,


NEW EMPLOYMENT LAW PROTECTS STAFF WITH CARE


RESPONSIBILITIES New legislation that took effect from 6 April 2024 will be a welcome new legal right for workers.


Employees who are unpaid carers for a person with long-term care needs will be entitled to up to five days of unpaid leave a year.


Kerry Hudson, Personal Injury and Employment Solicitor at Coventry and Warwickshire law firm Brindley Twist Taf & James (BTTJ) said the law is designed to protect and assist


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exercise, and ‘prambles’ – rambling with pushchairs around the neighbouring canal. Its choir, the Sankofa Songsters, is well-known for its local performances, and a new repair workshop sees residents teaching children how to use tools on a workbench.


A research nursery, its Mirrored Curriculum Framework has been developed and researched by Ready Generations in conjunction with academics from the University of Northumbria. The charity also works with several other universities to explore the benefits of intergenerational living and to develop a blueprint for the future roll-out of nurseries within older people’s settings, more widely.


Martin Rix, Belong Chief Executive,


employees with care responsibilities. The new right is effective from the first day of employment, so there is no minimum period an employee has to be in their job for to be get this entitlement.


“There is also flexibility depending on the need – for example, an employee can use a half day, full days or if needed use them all at once.”


Notice to the employer does however have to be given. Furthermore, the notice needs to be for twice as much time as the leave required – or at the employers' discretion for shorter notice. Employers can postpone leave when certain conditions are considered.


Kerry said: “I am sure there are many employees who have the worry of


said: “We’re honoured to have our intergenerational community recognised with a 3rd Sector Care Award. Belong Chester and The Nursery in Belong really push the boundaries of social care. Aſter years of research and planning, to see our vision come to life and the relations between customers and the nursery children flourish every day, is something truly special.”


Sue Egersdorff, Co-founder of The Nursery in Belong operators, Ready Generations, added: “We are incredibly proud to receive this award. We believe what we have created is the way forward for how communities live together and we’re very excited to see what the future holds.”


www.belong.org.uk


juggling jobs and the responsibility of caring for someone. The new legislation acknowledges that there is a need to help those employees. Importantly if an employee needs that leave, the legislation is designed to give them protection from being dismissed or suffering detriment simply because they have exercised that right.


“If an employee previously felt vulnerable asking for time to help someone for whom they had caring responsibilities, the introduction of this legislation hopefully gives them new comfort affording them new statutory rights and protection. “


www.bttj.com www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


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