I was delighted to hear that the Government has finally begun to recognise the importance of intergenerational activities in rebuilding the fabric of our society and has pledged money to directly support schemes designed to break down barriers and strengthen our communities.
At WCS, we have been actively developing this approach for some time, believing that community nurseries and children's centres have significant roles to play in driving community cohesion, by encouraging and supporting a range of activities where young and old can not only learn together but from one another.
In particular, we continue to be proud supporters of a local project remaking the classic 1949 British comedy 'Passport to Pimlico' as a more contemporary production, involving a broad range of members from the local community on both sides of the camera.
Inspired by the popularity and profile of this endeavour, we have found success leading a pilot project in south Westminster, encouraging a variety of evening classes, helping to unite local generations through dance, song and sewing.
Experiences gained from these and other projects in the area have been fed back to local partners and the council, with a clear and strong case for continued and consistent support, including five key recommendations to develop intergenerational activities further.
As a result, we are now even greater believers in the value of such shared learning activities and their long and positive impact.
With any luck, this new funding will help local authorities galvanise existing support and spur further initiatives and partnerships among organisations like our own.
By reducing fear through familiarity and a greater sense of common ground between young and older generations, we can begin the slow but crucial process of bringing our communities back together.
June O'Sullivan, chief executive, Westminster Children's Society, London.
NO TIME FOR A DUMMY
With all the concerns about the need to take every opportunity to stimulate and support the development of language, and the evidence of how this is prevented by using dummies, it is disappointing to see such a prominent example of a dummy being used, possibly unnecessarily, on your front cover (26 March).
There is common agreement that dummies should be discouraged as soon as children can manage without them and, where they are used, to ensure that it is for transitory periods and removed as soon as children become engaged in other activities and experiences. The article the picture relates to is about babies and children and their movement, so I would not expect to see a dummy routinely used during this exciting time.
Barbara Skilton, Birth to Three co-ordinator, Early Years and Childcare Service, Worcestershire County Council
DON'T MAKE MINE MILK
'How to make the most of milk' (16 April) was full of words like 'essential' and 'need'. No mention was made of any alternatives, such as soya milk or rice milk, or other sources of calcium.
It is of course perfectly possible to obtain calcium from lots of different sources rather than dairy products - after all, many cultures around the world don't eat dairy much, if at all. Green vegetables, soya products, seeds, even water, all contain calcium. Broccoli contains much more calcium than milk does! Interestingly, the countries with the highest rates of osteoporosis, due to calcium deficiency, are those in which most dairy products are consumed, confirmed by the World Health Organisation.
While milk may be considered a convenient source of protein and minerals, it's certainly not an essential. Milk is a baby food and cow's milk is designed for baby cows. Humans are the only species on earth that routinely drinks the breast milk of another animal - not only as a child, but throughout adult life. Are we the only species so ill adapted that we cannot obtain our calcium except in this way?
There is of course, lots of powerful marketing going on to persuade us all that milk is an 'essential' in our diets!
Jacquelin Curtis, Activeplay Nursery, Sittingbourne, Kent
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