Maps Murmurations Project: Where Generations Meet

Participants’ feedback highlights the impact of these activities –

One older participant:

I hadn’t spoken to anyone in days—this walk changed that.

A sheltered housing tenant:

I had never felt confident enough to come and find this park on my own. Now I’ve been with the walking group I will bring my grandchildren.

A Hills Road student:

I thought that the session we took part in on the 9th was really insightful, and I learnt about how people can stay active reaching older ages. It was also an opportunity to experience a primary care setting and learn about some of the services provided there, which gave me an understanding of an aspect of the career I would like to pursue as a doctor. I would definitely take part in more sessions in the future.

A volunteer facilitator:

It was amazing to see young people and older residents sharing stories together. I learnt so much about the local area and different life experiences.

These quotes illustrate not only the physical benefits of gentle movement but also the emotional, social, and educational progress the project fosters.

Volunteering as an Intergenerational Experience

Volunteering isn’t just about giving back—it’s about learning, growth, and connection. More often than not, volunteering is a truly intergenerational experience, bringing together people of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience. It’s a space where someone stepping into a role for the first time can work alongside a volunteer who has spent decades in the sector, and both contribute meaningfully. This mix of fresh perspectives and seasoned expertise creates a unique environment for mutual learning, mentoring, and collaboration.

For younger volunteers, working alongside older participants offers the opportunity to gain insight into lived experiences, develop empathy, and learn practical skills beyond formal education. Older volunteers, in turn, benefit from the energy, creativity, and new approaches that younger generations bring, while sharing their knowledge and life experience.

The intergenerational nature of volunteering also strengthens community cohesion. By breaking down age-related barriers, encouraging shared responsibility, and fostering respect across generations, volunteering builds networks of support that extend beyond the immediate activity. Contribution is defined not by age or experience—it’s about willingness, curiosity, and commitment.

However, despite the clear benefits, there are still relatively few volunteering roles specifically suited to young people. While older adults often have a wide range of opportunities to engage, younger volunteers can struggle to find positions that match their skills, availability, or interests. Expanding volunteering opportunities for young people is essential—not only to support youth engagement and skill development but to enhance the richness and effectiveness of intergenerational volunteering as a whole.

When intergenerational projects successfully include young volunteers, the impact is significant. Young people gain insight into older generations, empathy, and transferable skills, while older participants benefit from the vitality and enthusiasm of younger people. These exchanges strengthen communities, break down age-related barriers, and foster understanding across generations.

Practical tips on how to engage young volunteers can be found here.

Mapping as a Tool for Engagement and Wellbeing

At the heart of the project is mapping. Creating community maps encourages gentle movement while exploring local green spaces and neighbourhoods. It’s a method that works for all ages, fostering curiosity, observation, and reflection, while also encouraging conversation and shared learning. Maps help participants navigate their environment, appreciate local history, and connect with others in a natural, enjoyable way.

The Power of Partnership

This project, as with many others, is grounded in collaboration and mutual learning, delivered through close partnerships across the voluntary, statutory, and community sectors. Cambridge City Council has played a key role in enabling the project, providing access to networks, spaces, and services that connect residents. Community groups and local schools bring energy, creativity, and local knowledge, while voluntary organisations contribute experience in facilitating inclusive, safe, and impactful engagement.

This cross-sector partnership allows us to reach people who may not normally participate in community activities—whether due to age, confidence, health, or life circumstances—and ensures the project is more than a one-off initiative. By building relationships between organisations and sectors, we create a stronger foundation for future intergenerational work in the city.

Working in partnership also means constantly learning from each other. The project isn’t just about delivering activities; it’s about co-producing them with the people and communities they are for. This spirit of shared ownership and collaboration runs through everything we do—from workshop design, to gathering and sharing stories, to the training sessions that support everyone involved.

This is a model we hope to see grow: where different sectors come together not just to serve a community, but to actively build it with the people who live in it, across all ages.

Training and Learning Opportunities

The Maps Murmurations project has delivered a wide range of training and learning experiences, designed to support both participants and organisations in engaging meaningfully across generations.

For participants, the project offered intergenerational workshops that encouraged young people and older adults to work together, share experiences, and explore the city collaboratively. These workshops provided hands-on learning in creative activities, mapping, and storytelling, helping participants develop confidence, communication skills, and a deeper sense of connection to their community.

For organisations and volunteers, the project provided practical training and resources to support the delivery of intergenerational activities. This included our free webinar series, covering:

• How to deliver an intergenerational project – Step-by-step guidance for planning and running activities that bring generations together. Watch it here.
• How to make your intergenerational project accessible, safe, and inclusive – Tips to ensure everyone can take part confidently and safely. Watch it here.
• Supporting Young Volunteers – Advice for engaging young people meaningfully and building their skills and confidence. Watch it here.

These resources are open to all and provide practical advice, real-life examples, and tools to help organisations, volunteers, and staff build meaningful intergenerational connections.

In addition, the project ran mapping workshops for local residents, offering an opportunity for everyone to engage with the city, explore local green spaces, and contribute to community-created maps. These workshops combined learning with gentle physical activity and reflection, while fostering social connection across ages.

Through these training and learning opportunities, the project has strengthened capacity, built confidence, and encouraged collaboration, ensuring that both participants and organisations are better equipped to continue intergenerational engagement beyond the project itself.

Personal Reflections and Learning

For those involved, the experience has been transformative. Many volunteers, partners, and staff have reflected on why they got involved, the outcomes they’ve observed, and the lessons learned. Key impacts include:

• Strengthened empathy and communication skills among young participants
• Renewed purpose, social connection, and energy for older participants
• Insights into collaborative, intergenerational project design, informing future work for CCVS and partner organisations.

This project has demonstrated the value of building activities that align with organisational goals while also addressing community needs. By highlighting skills, knowledge, and creativity, rather than vulnerabilities, the project fosters confidence, pride, and resilience in participants of all ages.

On a personal level, I have particularly welcomed the opportunity to help generations come together and experience the city as a shared space. As a mother, I value chances for young people to get involved, take on responsibilities, and build confidence. I am also acutely aware of the limited intergenerational opportunities for my own children, with our families living far away. Projects like this allow them to learn how to relate to and value relationships with older people, while also discovering the city—not just for what it is today, but for the stories, history, and experiences that have shaped it over time. Watching these connections form, and seeing young and older participants learn from each other, reinforces for me just how powerful intergenerational volunteering can be in building empathy, understanding, and a sense of belonging.

Looking Ahead

The Maps Murmurations project demonstrates the transformative power of intergenerational volunteering, community engagement, and shared learning. By creating opportunities for people of all ages to connect, explore, and contribute, the project has strengthened relationships, built skills, and fostered a sense of belonging across Cambridge.

As the project continues, we aim to expand opportunities for young volunteers, deliver more training and workshops, and share learning and resources with organisations across the city. Whether you are young, older, or somewhere in between, there are ways to get involved—your stories, time, and energy make a real difference.