Recreating Social Capital: Inter-Generational Programmes and Bridging Networks: An English Model - Phase 1.

This paper describes the establishment of a pilot neighbourhood- based intergenerational programme and its evaluation in one town in England. It sets this in both the context of English intergenerational programmes involving schools and of English social policy. The latter is currently influenced by Putnam's concept of social capital. It argues that intergenerational programmes of all kinds are likely to be useful contributions to the development of social capital. The paper reports how the evaluation of the pilot has lead to the refinement of the original model. The pilot highlighted the need for more systematic measures of the process and outcomes, including the project's contribution to development of social capital. The revised model is being implemented in a number of contrasting neighbourhoods and will be evaluated in both outcome and process terms. These developments will be reported in further articles. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]