Following our Christmas raffle, the proceeds of which we donated to the Age Exchange, the committee felt a visit to its site in Blackheath (opposite the Station) was in order to find out more about its work. So early in February a group of us went along to the Bake House at the rear of the Age Exchange where workshops, concerts and meetings are held. We were greeted by Malcolm Jones, who had spoken to Lee Green WI about his acting career back in 2020, and had stepped into the breach to talk with us about his work with the projects they run at the Age Exchange and take out into the community.
The project of using acting and working with people with dementia using theatrical techniques leading to performances has been the inspired work of David Savill the Exchange’s Artistic Director. Malcolm explained that he has worked on and off on programmes with David for twenty years. He explained that even the most shy of people enjoy talking and reminiscing about their childhood or war time or life experiences, and this process helps them to engage with others and enables others to see them as individuals, rather than merely someone with a memory deficiency. Going in to care homes and speaking with people, they create a narrative from people’s stories which they manage to make in to a performance, which then the people take part in. This is a hugely rewarding experience for everyone involved and is hugely beneficial to the well-being of those with dementia.
The Age Exchange also provides group and one to one art activities. Classes are run to help people create artwork that they recall from their own experience, or from memories of things they have witnessed.
In essence Malcolm explained that their work was to help build people’s confidence who are living with dementia and lessen their sense of isolation. Certainly Malcolm’s stories gave such a positive and uplifting take on what is often regarded as a rather challenging illness.
The main building houses a small library run by volunteers as part of Lewisham libraries, and has a homely café with a range of cakes, sandwiches and light meals. Both the library and the café serve as the heart of the community hub which is run by the Friends of Age Exchange. I spied homemade chutneys and jams on sale too!!!
Anyone is free to enter the Age Exchange building and use their facilities, however they are keen to expand their membership which helps fund their projects. Membership is open to all ages and as their website says, joining is perfect:
whether you simply want to show your support for Age Exchange and to keep in touch with its work, or whether you would like to become a more active member, helping to organise events for all ages, have fun, volunteer, and meet a lively network of interesting local people.
For more information about the Age Exchange and their events check out their great website by clicking here.