Archive films reduce the isolation of older people

Aim

To create an interactive online delivery platform offering many hundreds of archive films (1940s-70)s for reminiscence with older people.

There are over 10 million people in the UK aged 65+, including around 850,000 living with dementia. Around  4 million are living alone and many rarely have a meaningful conversation with anyone.

After several years practical research we realised that our unique archive film collection from the 1940s-70s could greatly help to bring older people together around the UK to share memories and make new friendships.

In Devon local communities are now setting up our Tea & Memories groups which meet regularly to watch our films and then reminiscence about the old days over tea and biscuits. In these groups local older people enjoy sharing life stories and neighbours finally get to know each other!

The Abbeyfield Charity  is so impressed with the success of our Tea and Memories that it is partnering with us to set up more Tea and Memories groups in Devon and during 2020 and beyond.

We are currently seeking funding to enable us to restore more of the 35mm archive film prints from the 1950s and 60s in our collection and then transfer them to digital media, so that we can use them in DVDs and for our new Living Memories online streaming platform.

It costs us around £350-£400 for a specialist company to carry out that transfer process for each 70-80 year old archive film and make it look like a new production. It can then be enjoyed and help to stimulate more conversation.

We also require funding to help us complete preparation of our Living Memories Online streaming service, so that our films can be used online. Alongside our streaming service we plan to set up in Devon a pilot group of Memory Buddies. These will be people who would like to reminisce with others over the phone about topics which they have seen while watching archive films on our streaming service.

Please donate to our project and help bring more memories to life for older people. Thank you!

This project successfully funded on 29th May 2020