Digital platforms capturing your life stories launch this weekend
Two platforms designed to help people connect through sharing stories and evoking memories launch this weekend in Worcester.
Life Stories Herefordshire and Worcestershire, developed by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust and Worcester City Council, with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund is a groundbreaking platform designed to help people digitally capture their life stories. 
Available to all residents of Herefordshire and Worcestershire the online smart platform supports users to capture the significant moments of their lives and interests in a rich, interactive, online “digital book”.
Evidence has shown, developing life stories promotes wellbeing, connection and inclusion, especially for older people and people living with dementia and helps people to come together over shared memories and experiences.
For people who are being supported by carers or who are living in care, having easily accessible information about their lives and what matters to them is known to improve care and enhance relationships with staff.
Dr Natasha Lord, Lead Clinical Psychologist for Older People’s Mental Health at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said, “Creating a digital life story has recognised benefits for all of our wellbeing and can be an interesting exercise for anyone keen to capture a record of what’s important to them. But it has particular benefits for older people, people with dementia and their families and we are really excited about using Life Stories as part of the overall care we provide to people”.
Life Stories Herefordshire and Worcestershire launches this Saturday (26th June) at the Guildhall in Worcester, alongside the launch of ‘Know Your Place Worcester’.
Know Your Place Worcester is a free online platform which gives access to hundreds of archive photos, historic maps and pieces of data about Worcester.
This new, easy-to-use tool will enable people to find out more about their local area, reconnect with their past and explore the city’s rich heritage.
“The Know Your Place Worcester site will help people to rekindle memories by looking at archive photos of streets, shops and prominent places”, explains Sheena Payne-Lunn, Worcester City Council’s Historic Environment Record Officer. “It will also be a powerful tool for anyone who wants to research family history, explore local archaeology or find out about how previous generations lived in their street or neighbourhood.”
Open to all, the launch event runs from 11am – 4pm on Saturday with attendees invited to ‘drop in’ to learn more about both of the platforms, and enjoy traditional sweets from a traveling sweet shop, music from a vintage singer and a 1950’s high street recreation.
Those in attendance are reminded to follow current COVID-19 guidance.
For more information visit the EventBrite listing.