L4A

We work with older people receiving care across Leicester and Leicestershire

Storytelling

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Cam’s Fundraising Story!

I had really wanted to do the North Norfolk Coast walk for a year or so, and thought it would be nice if I used it to fundraise for charity.

I had visited some care homes with L4A previously as a volunteer, helping with activities and storytelling. During these visits I had seen the difference it makes to older people’s lives, and how it makes them feel involved. It had also been a worthwhile experience for me, and so I decided to use L4A as my chosen charity.

I made a justgiving account, and the setting up was as simple as selecting the charity on the justgiving webpage, then updating it every so often. This also meant donations went straight to the charity, making the process hassle free.

The walk itself was a real struggle, and a test of endurance, but it felt like a great achievement when it was finished. Hopefully the blisters wear off soon!

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Tales We Have Told and Shared

The Power of Stories: Tales for Telling and Sharing

L4A was delighted to be featured on regional news as part of The People’s Projects (more information here). Five charities pitched projects to the TV audience in order to gain votes from the public and L4A The Power of Stories won. This project ended in March 2017 but a legacy from the project continues with staff and volunteers feeling empowered to continue the work.

You will see from this video here that stories really do have the power to help older people feel healthier and happier. Listening to stories together unlocks memories and prompts people to share their own stories – making friends in the process. Working with professional storytellers, this project also involved training and supporting carers, care home staff and volunteers with storytelling skills.

Storytelling Video

Learning for the Fourth Age (L4A) delivered storytelling in 10-12 care homes and we have found it to be a very positive way of including and involving those whose situation can cause them to feel isolated and excluded from activity. The impact of the project was so significant that we recruited Hilary Comfort to evaluate the project in detail for us. We are delighted with what she found and the full report can be downloaded here for free:

Storytelling Evaluation

We are so inspired by the impact of this work that we are going to try and find further funding to roll it out to more settings, more nursing homes, more staff and even, for example, community hospital ward settings in the near future so watch this space!