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The European Reminiscence Network
The European Reminiscence Network aims to promote best practice in reminiscence work and to share experience across national frontiers. Co-ordinated by Pam Schweitzer since its inception in 1993, the Network now has partners in 20 countries and many associates in USA, Canada, Latin America, Australia and the Far East. [Image: European Reminscence Network members working together on dementia projects in Stockholm]
The partners work together to develop international projects, focusing on particular areas of reminiscence work and drawing in new and existing partners as co-operators with relevant interests and skills. All these projects are documented and externally evaluated, and some have resulted in widely used publications.
Our projects involve a highly practical and interactive approach to reminiscence and oral history with a cross-cultural perspective, celebrating difference and sharing common experience to promote international understanding. As well as reminiscence practitioners, many older people living in different partner countries participate in the projects, through performance, workshops, discussion and exchange visits.
Our work is funded on a project-by project basis through the European Commission and through central and local government bodies in the partner countries. Other funds have come from research bodies and charitable trusts.
Sites and Signs of Remembrance
This video clip shows highlights from the latest project from the European Reminiscence Network 'Sites and Signs of Remembrance'. For more information about Sites and Signs of Remembrance, visit www.sisie.eu.
Over the last fourteen years, the European Reminiscence Network has mounted the following:
Training courses for practitioners in reminiscence work
Festivals of reminiscence theatre featuring professional productions and older people’s theatre groups from across Europe and beyond
Conferences and action-research projects around reminiscence in dementia care
Festivals featuring inter-cultural reminiscence work
Touring exhibitions of visual art created by older people and professional artists around their memories and memorabilia
Conferences and seminars around inter-generational work
Study weeks for partners to develop a shared approach
[Image above: European Networking is fun]
Objectives of the European Reminiscence Network
To increase the profile of reminiscence work throughout Europe through exemplary projects and to reinforce the importance of valuing older peoples memories and life experience
To share best practice in reminiscence work and to exchange skills across national boundaries
To organise conferences, seminars and festivals to share work and exchange ideas [Image: 1995 Festival audience]
To undertake collaborative action-research projects in reminiscence with practitioners in different European countries
To develop and encourage trans-national projects which actively involve older people in creative reminiscence-based activities designed to increase inter-cultural and inter-generational understanding
To improve the quality of care for dependent older people by encouraging staff to develop reminiscence skills which personalise care in homes, hospitals and in the community
To develop projects which maximise the life experience of older people from migrant and ethnic minority groups, and to encourage the recording and dissemination of their reminiscences to the wider community
To provide educational workshops, training courses and practical support for people wishing to develop and deliver reminiscence projects in different European countries
To facilitate collaborative reminiscence work across different fields, such as health, social services, education, arts and cultural work
To publish and disseminate the results of our projects
Click here for a brief history of the European Reminiscence Network’s projects to date
[PDF file 101k - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader - download free copy]
For information and an order form for 'Remembering, Yesterday, Caring Today', please click here [PDF file 137K].
European Reminiscence Network
Registered address: 15 Camden Row, Blackheath, London, SE3 0QA, UK UK company number (5585482), registered company limited by guarantee Company directors: Errollyn Bruce, Henry Derbyshire, Sara Llewellin, Pam Schweitzer, Angelika Trilling Company Secretary: John Green, accountant
The European Reminiscence Network aims to promote best practice in reminiscence work and to share experience across national frontiers. Co-ordinated by Pam Schweitzer since its inception in 1993, the Network now has partners in 20 countries and many associates in USA, Canada, Latin America, Australia and the Far East. [
Training courses for practitioners in reminiscence work
To increase the profile of reminiscence work throughout Europe through exemplary projects and to reinforce the importance of valuing older peoples memories and life experience
