A PROJECT to record the memories of elderly people living in Sedgley and Gornal has been nominated for one of our Forging a Future for all Awards.
Reminiscence Cafe was launched by Sedgley Archives Group to combat loneliness and isolation among older people in the area, while also recording their memories to build a 'People's Archive' at Dudley Archives.
The events, which run weekly at All Saints' Church in Sedgley but also travel around the region, have so far seen residents discussing local shops, pubs, maps, churches and art.
Project manager Martin Jones said: "The group aims to convert the interest of older people, who initially provide memories, into active involvement, logging the information with Dudley Archives.
"We do presentations, for example on the change in pace of the high street, which was based on 170 photographs, and we invite people to come in and look and listen.
"People go up and say 'I worked there' or 'my father worked there' and we record their memories to form part of our archive.
"What typically happens with older people is that they tell these memories to relatives or close friends and then these memories die with them.
"We're proactively creating topics around which people can gather and exchange memories, and in so doing, give those memories value."
Reminiscence Cafe has been put forward for the Community Award, part of the Forging a Future for All Awards, launched by the Dudley, Stourbridge and Halesowen News and Dudley Council to celebrate inspiring individuals and organisations across the borough.
The awards will culminate in a glitzy black tie event at Copthorne Hotel in Dudley on Tuesday, November 27 where the winners will be announced.
There are 12 categories for our Forging a Future for all Awards: Improving the Local Environment Award - individual and group awards, Outstanding Contribution to Education Award, Young Achiever Award, Community Award, Transportation Award, Better Connected Award, Rising Apprentice Star of the Year, Business of the Year, Visitor Attraction Volunteer of the Year, Lifetime achievement Award (open to people working within a visitor attraction), Town Centre Ambassador of the Year.
The deadline for entries is Wednesday, October 24.
To nominate a person or business, fill out a form at dudleynews.co.uk/awards/forgingafuture.
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