Memories Matter
Join Us in Our Winter Warmer Appeal β Because Memories Matter
Did you know that 40,000 people in Brighton and Hove over 65
experience isolation all or most of the time?
At Gladrags, we value the life stories and memories of our older community members, and our Memories Matter Project honours these voices.
Our FREE sessions offer a supportive environment and immersive reminiscence activities that encourage shared experience and foster connection.
Dress Through the Decades event,
Ageing Well Festival, Brighton, 2024
Why do older communities need our support?
Through the lens of vintage styles, music and memorabilia our FREE reminiscence sessions
transport people back to their youth and encourage them to be socially active.
By evoking personal memories, we’re not just listening to the past β we’re celebrating it together.
Reminiscence boxes play a central role in sparking memories and igniting conversation. Filled with era-specific items,
vintage clothing, and everyday objects, they invite people to re-live and share treasured moments in their lives.
Equally accessible to people living with dementia or Alzheimer's, their sensory nature can
unlock long-forgotten memories and give everyone a voice.
"When planning group activities, a visit from Gladrags is always a top request! Their sessions, and vintage artefacts, help trigger fond memories, especially for those who struggle to recall them. The group's faces light up when the costume rail is revealed, making it one of our liveliest sessions. Everyone leaves with a smile!" Helen Jones, Chatterboxes.
What impact do these sessions have for older people in our community?
The mental health and wellbeing benefits of drama and creative expression have been highlighted recently,
with 68% of people acknowledging the positive effects (Arts Council, 2019).
The joy of reminiscence is enhanced with costume collections and vintage rails. The playful element of dressing up sparks laughter and joy, allowing people to step into different roles and recall fond memories together of times gone by that can reach beyond words.
Memories Matter is more than a gathering; it’s a free, welcoming, warm space for older members of our community that people depend on, especially those facing isolation and financial barriers. This is most keenly felt in the areas of disadvantage
where our work is focused, and is especially important in Winter months.
"I do believe, dressing up, it's being something that you're not, so that just for a moment, you're going to be a soldier, or a sailor, or an acrobat if you want! I see the look on people's faces here; they're all enjoying every minute of it, and that's just what we really need."
Len, Chatterboxes, Moulsecoomb
βAt our age, you can get really isolated and it’s important to intermingle. The smell, colour, texture of old-time clothing and objects jogs your memory and gets you talking with the others. One memory sparks another; happy days. It’s good for our brains and good for our health.
Please come back.β
Val, Robert Lodge 50+ Group
How Can Your Help?
In these ever-challenging times, when you donate HERE you are helping to bring older people in our community together
offering them joyful, inclusive experiences in warm spaces across the city.
If you are staging an event over the festive season, you could help raise funds for Memories Matter.
Could you: Donate a percentage of proceeds from your event?
Add a donation function to Ticket sales?
Donate proceeds of programme sales or a raffle?
Your Support Brings Connection, Belonging, and Joy.
Every contribution to Memories Matters helps us sustain these essential community gatherings. With your support, we can continue creating a warm, inclusive space for older people in need, reducing isolation, and building a community of companionship.
Please support our appeal
Join us in bringing memories to life.
Because when we gather to share, memories truly do matter.