Story

Intergenerational Connection and Climate Hope

How Make Do is helping bridge generations and create space for climate-positive living

One of the strongest themes emerging from Creative Climate Futures is the power of intergenerational connection. The climate crisis affects all of us – but the way we talk about it, understand it, and act on it can vary hugely between generations.

At Make Do, a regular community event hosted at Platform in Glasgow, we’ve seen how a space centred on creativity, care, and connection can spark meaningful conversations between generations.

Children, who have grown up with the crisis as part of their daily reality, bring energy, imagination, and honesty. Older generations – often experts in the “make do and mend” mindset – carry practical wisdom and lived experience of resourcefulness. And between them, there’s the so-called “squeezed middle”, often looking for hopeful, practical ways to engage.

These are not just moments of activity; they are moments of exchange, where people connect across generations and leave feeling lighter, more hopeful, and more equipped to act.

A regular participant, Jane, captures this beautifully:

“I’ve had a great wee afternoon. I had my roll, got some clothes at the swap shop, made a flower crown, and then had a massage!”

Jane comes to Make Do without children – it’s her time to rest and recharge as a carer. Her story reminds us that climate spaces don’t just have to be for families, or for activists. They can be open, joyful places where everyone is welcome, and where care – for self, for others, and for the planet – is the starting point for change.

Photo credit for all images used in this article: Ashleigh Shula