Bognor seminar closes gap between generations

The mixed image '“ with the slogan Hear Don't Fear '“ is being considered for a poster designed to bring down barriers which separate the young and old. A final design will be chosen in the coming weeks and the poster launched later this spring.

Additional thoughts for it emphasised other similarities between the age groups which arose from a workshop between 30 people from their teens to their 80s. One of the participants, Jordan Allen-Phillips, 18, from Rose Green, said: "It's good to get the older persons' views and understand some of the reasons why they feel like they do about younger people. When I am walking in the morning, and say hello to an older person, the majority of them don't reply. They believe that most of us are like those causing problems.

"Some of that is the way the situation is portrayed. More of the bad stuff makes the news and not enough of the good things that we do."

A sports and public services course student, Jordan helped to make a film at Pagham and Rose Green Youth Centre about the generations which was shown at the workshop and won a prize at last year's End of the Pier International Film Festival.

The workshop took place at the Bognor campus of the University of Chichester to encourage those at opposite ends of the age range to mix and mingle.

It was organised by members of the Arun Community Cohesion group, the university's Students' Union and the Arun branch of the University of the Third Age.

The activities included dressing up mannequins as a typical older or younger person using alcohol bottles, hair nets and magazines.

Rustington resident Pauline Chappell (74), chairman of the Arun U3A, said: "A lot of older peoples' views about younger people are based around the fear of fear. They are frightened they might be mugged if they go out at night."

Her vice-chairman, Val Kennedy, 65, of Littlehampton, admitted she would not walk to her local convenience store because it attracted a group of young people at night.

"Someone got mugged at the store. I will take my car even though it's just down the road," she said. "There are young people hanging around there with their bikes and there is a lot of shouting and drinking from bottles."

Alvin Ramsamy, the Students' Union chairman, said he was hopeful the event had shown a lone student walking along a street could be equally at risk from a group of young people as an older person. "We have always wanted to have a dialogue with the surrounding communities to help break down negative stereotypes of students and to show the positive impacts they can have," he added.

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