Intergenerational Project for Rural Schools

This is an exciting initiative aimed at supporting community resilience and challenging rural isolation and loneliness. We were delighted to be accepted on to the project- one of ten in Hampshire.

Our school community have chosen the name The Generation Game and please enjoy the photos and newsletters below.

If you would like to be involved please call 01420 562117, email or pop in to the school.

Sadly, dues to Covid-19 restrictions, we have been unable to hold Generation Game sessions for the last 18 months. However, we are planning to resume these in the 2021-2022 school year - watch this space!

Remembrance Day 2018: Hope, Peace, Remembrance

Generation of peacemakers pay tribute to the fallen (text from an article in The Alton Herald)

“When you go home tell them of us…” was the theme of St Mary’s Intergenerational week. In this exceptional centenary year of World War 1, the community at St Mary’s Bentworth CE Primary School wanted to pay tribute to the legacy from this generation. The children and community wanted to remember and give thanks for the ultimate sacrifice men and women made during this war. This remarkable generation have shaped our world and we all owe so much to their bravery, selflessness and strength. As children St Mary’s owe it to them to be a generation of peacemakers and all the children pledged, as a community through this artwork, to live in harmony.

In our artwork for each village, they choose every aspect carefully: a gold frame to represent the centenary year. Hessian to show that the soldiers are from a rural area, many of whom would have been agricultural workers. Each individual handmade poppy is different; a different shape, a different centre, representing every soldier who gave unique service and sacrifice for our peace today. The number of poppies are for the number of soldiers who died in this village. The purple poppy represents the millions of animals that were killed transporting ammunition and supplies to the front line.

Our large cross represents our different experiences of conflict and war. The children reflected on the impact of war in different ways. Some listened to poems and music from different periods of conflict, some read through letters and talked through the striking images of war. Through this immersion, each class designed different parts of the cross to show thanks for the sacrifices made by so many. Making this into a cross, shows how we can come together, through God’s love, to bring peace on earth.

On Friday, the school had a special Intergenerational Day where family and friends joined us to explore World War 1 and learn from the past. Two pupils, Harry and Henry, created a museum filled with World War 1 and R artefacts, photographs and memorabilia. Many members of the community told their stories about friendship, loss and selflessness. A war veteran also came with his assistance dog, discussing with the children how this works and why this support is so life-changing. A parent said “It was such an enjoyable afternoon, the craft ideas were spot on and the children gained so much from it”. A grandparent said, ‘I am welling up watching the children so absorbed about the past but so positive about the future. The harmony- older children working with younger children, such a range of art activities as well as a wonderful café with school-made cake- it is very special”.

India Generation Game 2017

The Church Council organised a fantastic Generation Game all about India to raise money for sponsorship of a girl at Kathryn's Mercy Home. There were lots of activities including rangoli patterns, henna art and trying on lots of wonderful outfits. Mrs Matharu made some delicious onion bahjis which were also sold at the end of the day to raise more money. Well done Church Council for a great afternoon!

Ewe Matter Christmas Generation Game 2016

Generation Game- Making Bug Hotels 2016