Intergenerational Creative Health Hubs: Strengthening Connection, Wellbeing and Belonging Across the City

Intergenerational Music Making (IMM) is a UK charitable organisation specialising in creative, intergenerational programmes that bring people of different ages together to improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and strengthen community connection. Working across health, culture and community settings, IMM partners with local authorities, community organisations and cultural venues to deliver inclusive, place-based activity.

Over the past year, Intergenerational Music Making (IMM) has delivered a powerful programme of Intergenerational Music Community Hubs across the Square Mile, creating welcoming, inclusive spaces where residents of all ages and backgrounds can connect meaningfully. Delivered in a range of community and cultural venues, the programme brought together older adults, children and young people, families, unpaid carers, refugee residents, LGBTQIA+ communities and people with SEND through shared music-making, creativity and co-designed activity.

Through weekly hub sessions, intergenerational creative health projects, volunteer training, innovation labs and celebration events, the hubs addressed some of the City’s most pressing challenges, including loneliness, social isolation and unequal access to creative and community spaces while actively strengthening community cohesion and belonging.

Charlotte Miller, Director of Intergenerational Music Making, said:

“What we’ve seen through these hubs is the real power of bringing generations together in welcoming, creative spaces. Music and creativity create an immediate sense of connection people feel seen, valued and part of something shared. When all generations come together in this way, it doesn’t just reduce isolation; it builds trust, confidence and a stronger sense of belonging across the whole community. We’re incredibly proud of what’s been achieved and excited about taking this work into more City spaces.”

In total, 150 people directly benefited from the programme, with a further 250 people reached indirectly through community sharings and celebration events. Participants reported improved wellbeing, increased confidence, new friendships and stronger connections to their local communities. The hubs supported sustained engagement across neighbourhoods where partners had identified higher levels of isolation and reduced access to inclusive creative provision.

The programme generated significant social value by fostering empathy, mutual respect and understanding across generations. Participants developed lasting relationships, increased confidence and a deeper sense of belonging within their neighbourhoods.  A key legacy of the work is the IMM Activator volunteering pathway, which supported local volunteers to develop skills in intergenerational practice, leadership and community facilitation helping to build long-term community capacity beyond the programme period.  The hubs also delivered environmental value through low-impact, place-based delivery. By using local venues, reducing travel, prioritising reuse and minimal materials, and sharing community assets, the programme supported more sustainable and accessible models of community activity.

With strong outcomes and growing demand, IMM is now working with partners to expand the Intergenerational Music Hub model across additional City venues and communities embedding intergenerational solidarity, creative health and connection as a core part of community life in the Square Mile.

IMM is grateful for the financial support towards delivery of elements of this programme from the City of London Corporation’s Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund.