WINTER WARMER APPEAL: MEMORIES MATTER
40,000 people in Brighton and Hove over 65 experience isolation all or most of the time.
At Gladrags, we value the life stories and memories of our older community members and our Memories Matter Project honours these voices. Our free sessions offer a supportive environment and immersive reminiscence activities that encourage shared experience and foster connection.
£10 ensures a reminiscence session
can be supported by two volunteers
“At our age, you can get really isolated and it’s important to intermingle. The smell, colour, texture of old-time clothing and objects jogs your memory and gets you talking with the others. One memory sparks another; happy days. It’s good for our brains and good for our health. Please come back.”
Val, Robert Lodge 50+ Group
Celebrating Lives Through Reminiscence
Through the lens of vintage styles, music and memorabilia our sessions transport people back to their youth and encourage them to be socially active.
By evoking personal memories, we’re not just listening to the past – we’re celebrating it together.
Reminiscence boxes play a central role in sparking memories and igniting conversation. Filled with era-specific items, vintage clothing, and everyday objects, they invite people to re-live and share treasured moments in their lives. Equally accessible to people living with dementia or Alzheimer's, their sensory nature can unlock long-forgotten memories and give everyone a voice.
£25 provides a reminiscence box of
vintage artefacts to unlock treasured memories
"When planning group activities, a visit from Gladrags is always a top request! Their sessions, and vintage artefacts, help trigger fond memories, especially for those who struggle to recall them. The group's faces light up when the costume rail is revealed, making it one of our liveliest sessions. Everyone leaves with a smile!" Helen Jones, Chatterboxes.
By supporting our crowdfunder, you’re helping us create a place where individuals can come together, enjoy the warmth of community, and rekindle memories through shared stories.
Encouraging Fun and Play with Vintage Costumes
The mental health and wellbeing benefits of drama and creative expression have been highlighted recently, with 68% of people acknowledging the positive effects (Arts Council).
The joy of reminiscence is enhanced with costume collections and vintage rails. The playful element of dressing up sparks laughter and joy, allowing people to step into different roles and recall fond memories together of times gone by that can reach beyond words.
£50 pays for a reminiscence facilitator to deliver a
memory-sharing afternoon for 25 isolated older people
"I do believe, dressing up, it's being something that you're not, so that just for a moment, you're going to be a soldier, or a sailor, or an acrobat if you want! I see the look on people's faces here; they're all enjoying every minute of it, and that's just what we really need." Len, Chatterboxes, Moulsecoomb
It's a deeply inclusive way to share laughter, connect, and remember.
£100 funds a warm community space and refreshments to host three memory-sharing sessions
Your Support Brings Connection, Belonging, and Joy.
Every contribution to Memories Matters helps us sustain these essential community gatherings. With your support, we can continue creating a warm, inclusive space for older people in need, reducing isolation, and building a community of companionship.
Join us in bringing memories to life. Because when we gather to share, memories truly do matter.