Older people in Mid and East Antrim take part in reminiscence project to boost wellbeing

by Mid & East Antrim Borough Council Communications Dept.

Older people were taken on a trip down memory lane as part of a project aimed at boosting health and wellbeing in the Mid and East Antrim Borough.
Painting Pictures in My Mind encouraged older people to take part in creative activities and share memories and stories from yesteryear.
Museum collections and heritage from their local areas helped bring the past back to life, with a focus on dancehalls and working life during the 1950s and 1960s.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Mayor, Councillor Audrey Wales, MBE, praised the initiative.
She said: “It has been great to meet the participants of this project and share in their memories.
“The Painting Pictures in My Mind project has enabled our council to respond to the needs of our society to ensure older people are active, respected and supported in their communities.”
The project was delivered in six local housing associations throughout the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area.
The venues which took part were Gloonan House, Ahoghill; Mooreland Close, Ballymena; Wilson House Day Centre, Broughshane; Barn Halt Cottages, Carrickfergus; Lisgarel Residential Unit, Larne;and Victoria Court, Whitehead.
All of the groups involved gathered together at Mid-Antrim Museum on Wednesday 8 March for the final event.
Painting Pictures in My Mind was delivered by Mid-Antrim Museum along with Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership.
It was financially supported by the Northern Ireland Museums Council.
The memories and stories shared through the project have been central to the creation of two loan box resources.
The boxes will enable others from across the Borough to reminisce and share in the activities in future.
An exhibition featuring the 1950s and 1960s will take place at Mid-Antrim Museum in The Braid later this year.