Memories in Motion: where community and creativity meet

This year we launched Memories in Motion – a brand-new collaborative project with Tavistock Memory Café, made possible through National Lottery Awards for All funding. Year one of the 2 year project brought together our Momentum groups with members and volunteers from the Memory Cafe (supporting adults living with dementia). We had participants aged from 13 to 91! 

Our time together...

To begin, our young people took part in dementia awareness training delivered by Tavistock Dementia Alliance, helping them gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and experiences of those living with dementia.

From there, participants came together in community spaces and at Caradon Woods to share stories, food, and skills. The focus was simple but powerful: creating opportunities for connection, reflection, and understanding.The core of the project was a series of creative build sessions led by Greenwood CIC.

Working side by side in the summer sunshine, participants sawed, sanded, and painted to create a beautiful set of timber chairs linked by a checkerboard. These now sit proudly in Tavistock Library’s foyer for everyone to enjoy. For some, it was a chance to learn completely new skills; for others, a chance to reconnect with familiar ones – but for all, it was a chance to laugh, chat, and enjoy the benefits of time spent together in nature.

"The sharing of wisdom, experience, stories and smiles was amazing. We loved the young peoples enthusiam and energy"

The feedback has been fantastic, with participants describing the project as “uplifting, rewarding, and inspiring.” We’ve also discovered a real synergy between our two organisations, and we’re excited to keep building on this collaboration.

Whats ahead...

Looking ahead, we’ll be reuniting around Christmas for festive games, food, and music – last year’s musical bingo was a big hit! And next spring, we’ll embark on a new creative build venture together.