The Stories of Our Lives is an intergenerational community-project based in Chorlton, Manchester. Since March 2020, we have met online regularly to combat the isolation of the times, replacing it with a strong sense of community and purpose.

We do this by taking part in guided reflections on our pasts then chatting to make sense of them. We also share our stories, which we later write up and then combine into an online blog. https://storiesofourlivesnow.org

We've all benefitted so much from this regular contact and a shared creative outlet, that we really want to help other people feel the benefits too. Helping each other develop a positive mental health routine and combat loneliness and isolation is more important than ever before. The Stories of Our Lives is about building the foundation for positive mental health and storytelling hubs across Manchester and beyond.

We need more help to do and fund the following ideas:

• Additional session times where we can involve more participants.

• Learning sessions to help us guide those who would like to join us but struggle with getting themselves online.

• New audio and video content for those who might not otherwise read our thoughts.

• Downloadable and printable resources to share for those not online. People could use these as a basis for great chats to help have a connecting, meaningful conversation.

• A booklet of tips for those who wish to write their own memories or help someone else to write theirs.

• Video and written guides for other groups wishing to set up their own storytelling group.

• A celebration event where we share how we collaborated and what we created.

Donations will help to tell stories new and old.

To support us, you can give any amount and it’ll go towards making a difference in the lives of those whose stories have yet to be told.

For a £10 donation, we will deliver a copy of our The Stories of Our Lives* book to a local Care or Nursing Home, or via a local Dementia trained nurse. By doing this, you can help more local older people to enjoy the stories within the book and access the memories they unlock.

Those who wish to obtain a book for themselves can follow this link for more details. https://storiesofourlivesnow.org/support-us/

*This book is made of stories from older Manchester residents who’ve seen and accomplished many things in their lifetimes. It is filled with tales about working life, childhood, travel and the impact of meaningful people. It’s educational, thought-provoking and calls back times that show a wide breadth of experiences. No matter the reader’s age or location, it’s sure to be an inspiring read.