Sporting memories used to tackle loneliness, depression and dementia
Sporting Memories is a charity dedicated to bringing together older adults to talk about and remember sport. The older adults who come to their online or community-based clubs may be isolated, or living with depression, dementia or other long-term conditions. Everyone has one thing in common: a love of talking about and remembering sport!
The Sporting Memories Foundation was already running community clubs to bring people together physically to reminisce. But it was interested in expanding its activity into online clubs. It approached Digital Communities Wales which was able to help the Sporting Memories Foundation by providing training for volunteers to enable them to become Digital Champions.
These volunteers have been helping older adults aged 50+ to use their devices to access the online and telephone Sporting Memories Clubs. Many of these individuals were completely isolated but now have weekly connection through Sporting Memories and have made many new friends.
Although the in-person Sporting Memories community clubs are starting to re-open after the pandemic, they are continuing with their digital clubs alongside these to continue to connect with more older people.
To find out more or to apply to become a sporting memories volunteer visit: https://www.sportingmemoriesnetwork.com/forms/volunteering-enquiry