Reminiscence project to boost wellbeing of borough's seniors

Older people in Ahoghill, Ballymena and Broughshane have been taken on a trip down memory lane as part of a project aimed at boosting health and wellbeing in the Borough.
Deirdre McCloskey, Project Co-ordinator, Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership; Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Cllr Audrey Wales, MBE; Jean Haveron, Chair of Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership; Elaine Hill, Heritage Development Officer, Mid-Antrim Museum.Deirdre McCloskey, Project Co-ordinator, Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership; Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Cllr Audrey Wales, MBE; Jean Haveron, Chair of Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership; Elaine Hill, Heritage Development Officer, Mid-Antrim Museum.
Deirdre McCloskey, Project Co-ordinator, Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership; Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Cllr Audrey Wales, MBE; Jean Haveron, Chair of Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership; Elaine Hill, Heritage Development Officer, Mid-Antrim Museum.

‘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.

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Mid and East Antrim Borough Mayor, Councillor Audrey Wales, MBE, praised the initiative, stating: “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 housing associations throughout the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area including Gloonan House, Ahoghill; Mooreland Close, Ballymena; and Wilson House Day Centre, Broughshane. All the groups involved gathered at Mid-Antrim Museum on March 8 for the final event.

The memories and stories shared through the project have been central to the creation of two loan box resources which 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.