0:00:02 > 0:00:03Hello and welcome to Lifeline.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19- Ugh!- Thank you. - There you go, Graham. Thank you.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Today I'm helping to build a shelter with a charity
0:00:22 > 0:00:25which symbolises the need for homes for the homeless,
0:00:25 > 0:00:31and we'll be hearing how laughter is the best medicine from one volunteer.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33It's brilliant.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36It really is, especially in times when people have no money.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39And, of course, we'll be looking at our community notice board too,
0:00:39 > 0:00:41but first to our main appeal today,
0:00:41 > 0:00:46the Reminiscence Network charity, a charity which tries to help
0:00:46 > 0:00:51tackle the isolation and loneliness felt by many of the elderly.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55CHILDREN SING
0:01:02 > 0:01:06The Reminiscence Network believes that each person has a unique story
0:01:06 > 0:01:09that is worth recalling, sharing and recording.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Individuals, families and communities can learn
0:01:12 > 0:01:16from the past to help them understand the present.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19It can help them feel more confident about coping with the future.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23The network values people through cherishing their memories.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27I have to tell you a story. My mother baked soda bread,
0:01:27 > 0:01:31and it was based on a griddle, and at that time...
0:01:31 > 0:01:34As people grow older, there should still be the opportunity
0:01:34 > 0:01:38and encouragement to develop and explore new skills.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40It can be a very empowering experience.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45I'm going to do it a bit lighter, Tommy.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48We'll just do a wee bit of a light reflection on that now.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Tommy, who suffers from Alzheimer's, joined one of the network's
0:01:51 > 0:01:56creative reminiscence groups and rediscovered his love of art.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00I'd forgotten all about it. I had no memory of it at all.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03And then that sort of clicked into my head.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05It makes you use your mind,
0:02:05 > 0:02:07and you have to concentrate
0:02:07 > 0:02:10and think about what you are doing.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Things like that there, at least we do achieve things at the end of it.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17That gives us hope.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22Reminiscence groups meet regularly across Northern Ireland.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25This project is supported by the Northern Health and Social Care Trust
0:02:25 > 0:02:27and the Big Lottery Fund.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31The project also works with individuals on life story work.
0:02:32 > 0:02:39# They tried to tell us we are too young
0:02:39 > 0:02:44# Too young to really be in love... #
0:02:44 > 0:02:48- We learned so many things, Mammy, that we didn't know about.- We did.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50Tales about her grandparents,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53about great aunts that went to America,
0:02:53 > 0:02:58about her life as a child in Ballymena, about her life as...
0:02:58 > 0:03:03She has a lovely voice, Mammy, and she did lovely operas,
0:03:03 > 0:03:09and good memories, bad memories, laughter, sadness,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12but the stimulation was just wonderful.
0:03:12 > 0:03:17This is my grandmother and this is her daughter.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Photographs always tell a story, every photograph to me does, anyway.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24It's important to me for my grandchildren that
0:03:24 > 0:03:31they'll have memories of me when I was young.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33You can talk about a specific memory...
0:03:33 > 0:03:37'The Reminiscence Network provides a range of training programmes,
0:03:37 > 0:03:41'such as reminiscence work in dementia care, life story work,
0:03:41 > 0:03:44'and guided autobiography.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48'Familiar items from the past are used to help deliver the training.
0:03:48 > 0:03:54'Reminiscence Network, through their training, will enable you to build trust'
0:03:54 > 0:03:56with the individuals who are coming along.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58That's a lovely process in itself,
0:03:58 > 0:04:03and being part of allowing people to open up and share their story,
0:04:03 > 0:04:04and capture that.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06We shouldn't overlook elderly people.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08We should value and treasure them.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16We'd love to hear from anyone who would like to do training
0:04:16 > 0:04:17in reminiscence work,
0:04:17 > 0:04:22or indeed to set up a reminiscence group in their local community.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24That can be quite an expensive process,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27so it would be very helpful,
0:04:27 > 0:04:29any financial donation, no matter how small.
0:04:29 > 0:04:34For example, to make a life story book takes a lot of time and effort,
0:04:34 > 0:04:38and yet it can be a vital link to an older person
0:04:38 > 0:04:43recapturing their memories and really valuing their life experiences.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45That's what I just love,
0:04:45 > 0:04:50when we're all together and everybody is telling their wee bit
0:04:50 > 0:04:57about something, and it makes the past all come together, doesn't it?
0:04:57 > 0:05:01Reminiscence Networks helps thousands of people in Northern Ireland
0:05:01 > 0:05:04reconnect with their memories, enhancing lives and well-being.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
0:05:08 > 0:05:14# I'll tell my ma when I go home the boys won't leave the girls alone
0:05:14 > 0:05:17# They pulled my hair and stole my comb
0:05:17 > 0:05:20# But that's all right till I go home... #
0:05:20 > 0:05:23To make a donation to the Reminiscence Network,
0:05:23 > 0:05:25visit our website...
0:05:30 > 0:05:32Click on the "donate" button.
0:05:32 > 0:05:34Or send a postal order or cheque
0:05:34 > 0:05:38made out to the Reminiscence Network to...
0:05:44 > 0:05:48And you can learn more about volunteering for the charity
0:05:48 > 0:05:49on their website.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54The idea of banking the time you've spent volunteering
0:05:54 > 0:05:56so the hours can be traded for your own benefit
0:05:56 > 0:05:59is really catching on across Northern Ireland.
0:06:01 > 0:06:07This is a laughter yoga class at the Lighthouse Centre in Belfast.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11It can improve your mind and body and for instructor Cathy,
0:06:11 > 0:06:15her timebank participation improves her life too.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20You can come here and you can get things like,
0:06:20 > 0:06:22you can get decorating done,
0:06:22 > 0:06:24you can get your lawn cut,
0:06:24 > 0:06:29you can get your dog walked, even, in return for things.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33You can offer anything and get anything in return. It's brilliant.
0:06:33 > 0:06:34There's more information
0:06:34 > 0:06:36on timebanking for volunteers
0:06:36 > 0:06:39on our website.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43And now a quick look at our community notice board.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47St Vincent de Paul are looking for top-quality clothes,
0:06:47 > 0:06:51hats and accessories for their charity fashion show in June.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53You can contact them on...
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Northern Ireland's largest disability exhibition
0:07:03 > 0:07:07is being held at the end of May, and Motability will also host
0:07:07 > 0:07:11their big event show on the same dates. Visit...
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Or get your hiking boots on next month
0:07:18 > 0:07:19to help Northern Ireland Hospice.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22There are two fundraising trek routes in the Mournes.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24To register, just call...
0:07:27 > 0:07:29Or visit...
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Well, have a look at this.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37The Shack Attack is really taking shape now
0:07:37 > 0:07:39in a rather chilly Wallace Park in Lisburn.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41I'm joined by Diane from Habitat NI.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43Diane, you're keen for people to come along next month,
0:07:43 > 0:07:45get their hands dirty, build some shacks
0:07:45 > 0:07:48- and, of course, raise some money. - We are, Jo,
0:07:48 > 0:07:50we're delighted to bring Shack Attack
0:07:50 > 0:07:52to Northern Ireland for the first time ever,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55and we really encourage people to build their own shack,
0:07:55 > 0:08:00gather scrap materials, create their own design and raise money for such a good cause,
0:08:00 > 0:08:03and helping people who are living in poverty housing around the world
0:08:03 > 0:08:06to move out of their shacks and into a proper home.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09And anyone can get involved - companies, individuals,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12people just looking for some fun and a bit of a challenge.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15Yeah, something a bit different to get involved with, but also
0:08:15 > 0:08:18to stay in their shack overnight, just to give them a flavour of what
0:08:18 > 0:08:21it's really like to live in poverty housing around the world.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23How do people actually go about
0:08:23 > 0:08:25getting involved in volunteering?
0:08:25 > 0:08:27They can phone us at our office,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29they can get involved by looking on our website,
0:08:29 > 0:08:32and they'll find all of the details on there about how to get involved.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Listen, from a very chilly Wallace Park,
0:08:35 > 0:08:37I hope the sun shines on the day.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39All the very best of luck, and of course,
0:08:39 > 0:08:43all the details from today's programme are on our website.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46In the meantime, I'm heading in there to try it out for size.
0:08:50 > 0:08:51See you next time!