Memories & Me

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Worcestershire Libraries have secured National Lottery funding via Arts Council England to
deliver a two-year project which will support families within our communities who have
been impacted by Dementia.
The focus of the project is to expand our dementia-friendly offer through:

  • Staff training and creating Dementia Ambassadors across the library network
  • Providing resources in the form of loanable ‘Memory Bags’ to be used in the home
  • Introducing additional dementia-friendly groups, events and activities in libraries
  • Access to the Reading Well for Dementia book collection to support families and carers
  • Signposting to information, partners and local organisations.

We will have 60 memory bags available in libraries by spring 2025
Contents of memory bags:

  • picture books, photographs, objects, games and other items
  • Local documents from Worcestershire’s Archives (photographs etc)
  • Twiddlemuffs
  • Information Leaflets

  • Initially these will be located in 10 libraries across the county – including Pershore & Evesham Libraries.
    However, the bags can be reserved by customers to be transported to any of our 21 libraries at no
    charge – so customers can request to collect them from their closest library.
    They’ve been created to be lightweight and easy to carry, making them ideal for use in the home.
    They can also be borrowed by professionals to be used in group settings and can be used as a fun
    activity within care homes or dementia cafes. All that is required to borrow a Memory Bag is a
    Worcestershire Libraries individual membership (which is free)

Library Staff Training:


❖ All library staff will have completed the Dementia Friends awareness training provided by
Alzheimer’s Society by the end of February 2025.
❖ 15 library staff have been selected to become Dementia Ambassadors (across the county) and
will be trained by the University of Worcester’s Association for Dementia Studies – commencing in
January
❖ Dementia Ambassadors Training covers:

  • Creating a supportive environment
  • Effective communication
  • Developing the right activities
  • Information and signposting

Dementia-friendly Activities in Libraries
❖ Currently some libraries host Dementia Café’s and Reminiscence Groups, however Dementia
Ambassadors will be looking to work with local partners to expand the range of groups and
activities available across Worcestershire.
❖ New groups and activities will start to become available later in the spring and will be promoted via
social media, the council’s website and through partners.
❖ Dementia Ambassadors will also look to ensure existing groups, such as crafting groups, book
clubs, film clubs, photography groups and gardening clubs are welcoming and accessible for
carers and those affected by dementia.
❖ We will be holding stakeholder events in March/April to encourage local organisations and
professionals to join us in the library to find out more about the project and potentially get involved
with some of our group activities.

Libraries stock the Reading Well for Dementia collection – a range of books which can support families in understanding what is
happening to their loved ones. These resources will be available for those attending events and activities, promoted in the
Memory Bags and also form book displays in libraries. We will promote this collection throughout the project, monitor
borrowing and investing in more stock where needed.

If you have any questions relating to the ‘Memories and Me’ project, please contact: Louisa Ackling – lackling@worcestershire.gov.uk