The report, 'For All Ages', launched by children's charity 4Children and Counsel and Care, a charity that supports older people, argues that an increasing distance between younger and older people will cause social problems unless action is taken.
Chief executive of Counsel and Care Stephen Burke said, 'The need to generate stronger links between the generations has never been more important.'
To ensure that children and families can benefit from intergenerational learning in children's centres, the Calouste Gulbenkian foundation and other voluntary organisations are working with the charities to strengthen community cohesion.
Many older people are already involved in children's centres across the UK as volunteers, community activists or grandparents.
The report notes that children's centres in the London boroughs of Haringey and Merton are already developing intergenerational aspects. Another example is Vauxhall Children's Centre in Norwich, which is based in an adult social services centre open for more than 30 years. The management committee of service users were fully involved in the integration of the children's centre.
The report recommends setting up an intergenerational strategy at ministerial level and piloting a flagship programme of intergenerational centres, as well as developing guides for good practice and providing better information on how intergenerational approaches can help achieve improved school standards and Every Child Matters Outcomes.
Chief executive of 4Children, Anne Longfield, said, 'When young and old come together in a common experience, amazing things can happen with much to be learned, perspectives and stories shared and new friendships forged'.