Devon-based volunteer Brian Norris has been recognised by the national charitable, all-party Points of Light organization for his creation of Living Memories Online, an innovative archive reminiscence streaming platform. The platform offers nearly 3000 20th-century archive programmes to help reduce isolation and improve the well-being of older adults, particularly those living with dementia, across the UK.
Norris is one of the most recent recipients of the Points of Light Award, which celebrates individuals who are making a real difference in communities and inspiring others. Every day, the Points of Light organisation, based in 10 Downing Street, selects an exceptional volunteer to receive the award.
In a personal letter, Prime Minister Boris Johnson commended Norris for his dedication to creating the Living Memories Online streaming service. The Prime Minister praised the innovative platform for bringing the therapeutic benefits of reminiscence to older people in the UK, including those with dementia. He also acknowledged Norris’ creation of the Tea & Memories community groups and home visits, which have helped combat isolation among older people.
Norris expressed his gratitude for the Prime Minister’s recognition, stating, “I was surprised and honored to receive this Award. When we first started sharing archive films in care homes and Memory Cafes, we saw the positive impact they had, especially for people with dementia, so we realised this could help so many others.” He also credited his team at Living Memories CIC for their support and dedication, and he hopes that the award will inspire more people to volunteer and share memories with the older generation.
The daily Points of Light award recognises exceptional individual volunteers whose service makes a real difference in their communities. Norris has been a community volunteer for over 60 years, but his reminiscence journey began ten years ago when he and his wife, Leonore, started showing archive films in care homes in Cornwall and Devon. They witnessed the powerful way these films stimulated memories and encouraged communication, particularly among residents with dementia. Norris recognized the need to make reminiscence using archive films more accessible, leading him to establish Living Memories C.I.C., a non-profit social enterprise.
Living Memories C.I.C. is dedicated to creating reminiscence resources and services using archive newsreels and documentaries from the early to mid-20th century. The organization’s flagship project is Living Memories Online, an online streaming platform that provides subscribers with access to over 2,800 archive films in a dementia-friendly and easy-to-use format. The platform has seen a surge in popularity, especially during the pandemic, when many older people became more isolated than ever before.
Norris and his team have also developed a range of other services that have received recognition and awards. These include DVDs with printed Reminiscence Guides, Tea & Memories Groups, and Tea & Memories @ Home, where trained volunteer “Memory Buddies” use digital tablets to share Living Memories Online with older people in their own homes.
Living Memories is an excellent example of the impact one person with a good idea can make. What started as a community project in Devon has grown into a non-profit service that benefits older people and those with dementia across the UK. Norris and his team of volunteers are not only preserving history through archive films, but they are also preserving the personal histories of older generations by unlocking forgotten memories and encouraging their stories to be heard.
The Points of Light Award programme was first launched in the UK in April 2014 by Prime Minister David Cameron, adopting the US National Award programme created by President George W. Bush in 1990. Norris is the 2068th person to be recognised with this prestigious award.
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