The Memory Project came together after the Leisure Development and Bolsover Project Managers shared stories from our members attending their respective social groups. Helen and Kirstin decided these memories deserved to be celebrated and went about pulling a plan together. The culmination of which we now refer to as The Memory Project.

Such is the wealth of potential to be gleaned from the concept it was necessary for it to be broken down into 3 stages:

Stage 1: Storytelling, Memory Sharing & recording.
Stage 2: Model making & animation in response to recording.
Stage 3: Screening of animation and exhibition of models.

The 1st stage took place last August with 10 of our members from both the city and county meeting at the art centre, Quad.
The day started off with an introduction to the project, Jan Reynolds (Quad Participation Manager) and our professional storyteller for the day, Peter Chand.

During the morning we warmed up our memories by listening to Peters’ tales and some of the archive film material held in the BFI mediatheque.

After our lunch it was the members turn to start sharing their wonderful stories. Elsie spoke of her 1st day at school, Johnny of cycling to work, Winnie of barrage balloons and everyone chipped in with their pastime games.

All of this was recorded thanks to technician, Colin Park, who has since done a brilliant job of editing the material into clips which have been played over several weeks on the local radio station ‘Erewash Sounds’.

The 1st stage was made possible with funds raised by Kirstins mums’ Skydive and we are thrilled the 2nd stage is now funded by a Small Arts Grant from Derbyshire County Council.

We are now busy preparing for model making and the animation with DAB’s Childrens Services Manager, Nicola Pickering which which hopefully take place during the summer.

Our Fundraising Manager, Robin Toal, has successfully job secured the funding for the 2nd stage and the team are working together to make sure we can see the project through to the 3rd and final stage.