'It's incredibly rewarding': The heart warming way that Sunderland Echo's old photos are helping the elderly

Old Echo photos are being used in displays in homes to help people reminisce about the past.

Now, an amazing boost has been revealed in the Wearside project which we first reported on in 2020.

‘Those moments are small, but they stay with you’

It has fared so well that it is doubling in size to cover six homes in the future.

The Sunderland Literacy Aid group has been exhibiting old Echo pictures from the 1970s and 1980s, in a scheme called the Reminiscence Project.

It made a huge difference and Cata Constantine, from the Sunderland Literacy Aid team, told us just what a difference it has made.

‘The photos have been incredibly valuable, with one resident even recognised a cousin’

‘It’s incredibly rewarding. When a resident lights up, shares a memory, or connects with something they haven’t talked about in years, you know it’s worth every bit of effort. Those moments are small, but they stay with you.’

The Reminiscence Project had to be paused when lockdown hit, but it has now restarted, and the Echo has provided more photos to help pensioners to reminisce further.

Cata added: “ The key difference this time is the greater involvement of students from Sunderland College and the University, which we’re really excited about. We’re hoping that this intergenerational element will spark more engaging and meaningful conversations.

‘Our project is a great fit because it's flexible, local, and based in the community’

“The photos have been incredibly valuable, with one resident even recognised a cousin in one of the images. That moment of connection really shows the emotional impact of this work.”

As well as photos, the teams are taking retro items into homes and there’s more good news.

Cata added: “We’re starting with three care homes and have another three lined up, which will bring us to a maximum of six, that’s what our current funding allows.

“Psychology students from the University need community-based experience as part of their second year, and college students are looking for work placements to build employability skills. Our project is a great fit because it's flexible, local, and based in the community, so no travel costs involved.”

Shipyards, Mowbray Park and Jacky White’s

Echo photos are being printed onto huge boards so that people with sight problems can also view the images.

In the past, we shared images of Pyrex, Jacky White’s market, Sunderland shipyards and fishing at Mowbray Park.

This time, the Sunderland Echo has added scenes from Ashbrooke in 1975, a Deptford ship launch, Binns in 1980, and the last of the Jolly buses.

We have also invited the SLA team to use our Wearside Echoes podcast series to help trigger memories further.

Sunderland Literacy Aid was founded to help encourage social inclusion, community regeneration and lifelong learning in the ageing communities of Sunderland.

To find out more about the group, visit www.sunderlandliteracyaid.co.uk.