The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth has launched new resources as part of the ‘Living Memory’ scheme to assist health and social organisations with reminiscence therapy.

The Living Memory project is being led by the National Library of Wales’ Volunteering Unit.

During the year they have collaborated with the health and social care sectors in Wales to identify the potential of the library’s old photographs and films in stimulating memories among older people and those living with dementia.

The library will now make resources available free of charge to public libraries. The scheme was originally piloted by the Older People Mental Health wards of Hywel Dda Health Board and Ceredigon Crossroads.

Following a successful bid for funding from Film Hub Wales packs, including old films and photographs from the national collections, were created to be shared with voluntary and community groups, day centres and care homes.

Staff members from the Screen and Sound Archive and Visual Collections, and a number of the national library’s volunteers; have been instrumental in bringing these packs together.

Pedr ap Llwyd, chief executive and librarian at National Library of Wales, said: “The launch of these resources, as part of the ‘Living Memories’ scheme, is a key part of our ambition as a national library to extend access to our collections in new and beneficial ways that impact the wellbeing of the community.

“The scheme will be rolled out across Wales, taking the library’s collections across the country, often to vulnerable or hard to reach people.”

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