Two Bath Spa University students have been working with older people at St Michael’s Day Centre on a programme of activities designed to evoke and share childhood memories.
The Applied Drama students, Emily Price and Emily Nicholas, ran eight sessions looking at childhood and wartime at the Age UK B&NES day centre, and offers fun, friendship, recreational and social activities, especially for older people who find it difficult to get out.
A different topic was discussed each week, beginning with school years and playground games such as skipping and hopscotch.
The group also discussed memories of wartime, and with a 40-year age span among the attendees this included childhood and adult reminiscences of the war and the era of ration books that followed.
Another week they discussed holidays, and memories of going to the seaside, writing postcards for friends and families.
Emily Price said: “It was a pleasure to work with the people at Age UK B&NES, to see their confidence grow week by week and their engagement in all the activities we offered to them was overwhelming.
“Sharing and honouring memories of older people is extremely important and the fact I was offered the opportunity to do so was amazing.”
Emily Nicholas added: “I thoroughly enjoyed my ‘Trip down Memory Lane’ with all the people at St Michael’s Day Centre.
“The opportunity to work with older people, reminiscing about their memories has broadened my knowledge of a bygone era.”
At the end of the eight weeks the programme was assessed by tutors who came to enjoy an afternoon tea celebration with the group.
“All of the older people who attended the sessions joined in and thoroughly enjoyed this activity,” said Tina Williams, Day Centre Team Leader.
Age UK B&NES is a local charity that supports around 12,000 older people, their families and carers every year, with essential services.
