The Changing Intergenerational Relationships (CIR) project explores how people of different generations live, work, support one another, and experience change across Stirling and Clackmannanshire.

CIR is a University of Stirling regional case study within the ESRC-funded Connecting Generations Centre. Our work considers how relationships between generations shape, and are shaped by, four important areas of everyday life: changing working practices, intergenerational living, digital access and exclusion, and access to health and social care.

We use life-history interviews to understand these issues in the context of people’s lives, rather than treating them as separate experiences. Community workshops then bring people together to discuss the themes emerging from the research, test whether they reflect local realities, and consider what could make a practical difference. Across the project, we also use stakeholder discussion and, where appropriate, analysis of existing data to connect local experience with wider patterns and policy questions.

By working with people living and working in the region, alongside community organisations, services, practitioners, and policymakers, CIR aims to develop evidence and resources that are rooted in local experience. Our focus is not only on the challenges people face, but on the relationships, knowledge, community assets, and opportunities that can help create a more connected and inclusive future.

Select a theme below to find out more about the individual work packages, the research methods involved, and the insights and resources emerging from CIR.