Student and staff volunteers from the University of Chester, together with community volunteers and staff from Vintage Blacon, have enabled elderly service users at the day care centre to take a trip down Memory Lane.
Through a generous grant of £3,000 from Santander Universities, applied for with help from staff in the student skills development team at the university, volunteers at Vintage Blacon were able to use part of the money to buy three iPads for the centre’s users.
The iPads have helped elderly residents, many of whom suffer with memory loss, with learning and memory tasks through the use of specific iPad apps.
Alan Smith, audio-visual technician at the university and a trustee at Vintage Blacon, said: “The iPads bought with the money donated from Santander Universities have introduced many of the older people to the new, digital age. Activities have included using YouTube to play vintage videos and music from the past which people are able to sing along to. The clients are also able to talk with volunteers about their lives and memories.”
Sophie Ball, a second year psychology with history student at the university, who volunteers at the Vintage Blacon Wednesday group, added: “I enjoy every minute of volunteering at the centre and I believe that the introduction of the iPads to the service has already resulted in some drastic changes.
“The screens are large enough for people to see a clear picture, and the devices can be used to show photographs, videos and play songs along with other activities. Seeing a person remembering the past when a video or song is being played is incredible and for those few short moments you are reliving their past life with them. It shows that technology like this is really useful in helping people to reminisce.”
Jill Topping, from Santander Universities, said: “We are delighted to support such a wonderful cause and we are pleased to hear what a difference this has made to people at Vintage Blacon. We would love to maintain contact with the centre to see how we can support it further.”
In addition to the iPads, the money has also been used to buy a new fridge for the centre.
For more information about Vintage Blacon, visit http://vintageblacon.org/
