Exhibition event brings intergenerational stories to life in Northamptonshire

On Thursday 22nd January Northampton International Academy (NIA) hosted The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation's (TMDF) Intergenerational Stories Exhibition. The event showcased written biographies created by students from Northampton International Academy and Northampton School for Boys, in collaboration with older adults supported by TMDF.

The project, which began in June 2025, paired students from TMDF’s partner schools with local older residents, giving young people the opportunity to document personal histories ranging from their childhood and education, to careers, relationships, and lessons they’ve learned through life. Over two sessions, the students conducted interviews, then wrote biographies which were carefully reviewed by their partners for accuracy and sensitivity.

Martin Serrão, Executive Headteacher of Northampton International Academy, explained: “This project brought NIA pupils together with members of the local community who have lived extraordinary lives, creating a powerful platform for shared learning, storytelling and connection.Through meaningful collaboration, pupils worked alongside older participants, gaining insight into personal histories, life experiences and perspectives that extended well beyond the classroom.

"It enabled us to actively live our #EMATter values of collaboration and inclusion, fostering strong relationships across generations. By learning with—and from—one another, participants developed mutual respect, empathy and understanding.”

Mr Serrão explained that for his students, the experience had “not only supported their personal development and confidence, but also led to the formation of genuine friendships, strengthening community bonds and demonstrating the powerful impact of intergenerational learning.”

The event featured individual storyboards with various photographs and images, capturing key moments from each participant’s life. Attendees of the event included Deputy Mayor Mike Hallam, the older community members and students who took part in the programme, as well as their teachers, family and friends, and some key supporters of TMDF.

Teresa McCarthy-Dixon, founder of TMDF, explained how for the charity’s clients and older community members, “This project has truly made a world of difference, and I know without initiatives like this, most of these incredible stories would remain otherwise untold, and lost to time.”. She described how “for everyone involved, I think this experience has been a fantastic reminder that we always have more in common than we realise. Many older people overcame enormous difficulties throughout their lives, and although things may be very different now, the younger generations equally have a lot of challenges to face today. It was phenomenal to see them come together and connect over this.”

Remarking on the exhibition, Teresa said “It was so inspiring to see everyone come together and celebrate the remarkable work created by these wonderful students. They did a fantastic job at capturing the legacies of those who took part and our charity is exceptionally grateful.”

TMDF has said they will also make the exhibition available online through the charity's website, forming a digital archive which the wider community can access for many years to come.