This is a participatory project, focused on bringing storytelling and filmmaking practices into care settings and elderly communities; the places with some of the most fascinating stories to share.

The aim of the project is to introduce film and video-based practices into dementia friendly environments led by filmmakers Andy Sherlow and Zephyra Durkin with the idea of collaborating with the residents to create work based on their interests.

The workshops provide methods for people living with dementia to be able to express themselves through the art of video work. The project is also supported by care home focused digital television enterprise, XLNT, based from Stirling.

Workshops started at the William Simpsons care home in Plean on 1st of October 2024, with more to come in other locations.

The main emphasis of the initial workshops was developing straightforward storytelling exercises with more technical components being introduced in later sessions. Feedback, engagement and self-analysis from the artists will inform the direction of the workshops as they progress.

The long-term goal is to create a toolkit for visual storytelling which can be used by people living with dementia, along with their family, friends and carers. What form this toolkit will eventually take is yet to be decided but with the aid of participants during workshops, ideas for activities, instruction guides, and help resources are being created.

In addition to an instructional toolkit allowing the work from this project to carry on, several documents of the residents creativity are being made in the form of videos. These videos range from collections of photographs captured by participants during workshops, to documentary style pieces recounting stories from people’s lives or showing off their hobbies and interests. These videos will act as a demonstration of what can be created with the finished toolkits and will hopefully inspire some creativity in those who go on to use them.

For the time-being we cannot share this work with the public but some short examples can be viewed at request.

Artists Andy Sherlow (right) and Zephyra Durkin (left).

“Over the later part of 2024 we have been working with residents at William Simpsons in Plean and Forthbank Care home in the Raploch in Stirling. Working with groups who are eager to share their stories and interests has been a joy and the feed back from residents has consistently been outstanding. Our workshops have been a space where people can get to know each other better and do something different every other week, as well as learning ways to document what is important to them for sharing with others”

-Zephyra Durkin