About the project
Making lived experience
visible and valued.
CARER uses person-centred storytelling to help older carers and people with early-stage dementia share and shape their lived experiences.
Stories are developed collaboratively, with facilitators supporting dignity, authenticity and individual voice rather than imposing pre-written material.
The finished anthology and facilitation guide will keep those stories accessible, while trained peer facilitators support continued storytelling in community and care settings.
How the project works
Four connected phases.
01
Story capture
12–15 older carers take part in ten weekly storytelling sessions. Their memories and reflections are shaped into more than 25 short stories.
02
Peer facilitator training
4–6 older volunteers learn Verbal’s storytelling model alongside safeguarding and group facilitation.
03
Community delivery
Peer facilitators lead six-week storytelling programmes in dementia cafés and carers’ groups, supported by partner organisations.
04
Showcase and anthology
A public event recognises the contributors and facilitators, while the completed anthology is published digitally.
At the heart of the stories
Three themes, shaped by lived experience.
Belonging
Creating regular opportunities for meaningful conversation, recognition and connection.
Resilience
Giving space to the strength, change and emotional realities found within caring experiences.
Care
Recognising care as a lived relationship and making carers’ often unseen experiences visible.
The creative output
25+
stories authored by older carers
A digital anthology with a life beyond the project.
The collection brings together personal stories around belonging, resilience and care. Published online with a facilitation guide, it can support recognition, empathy and new conversations in carers’ groups and dementia-support settings.
Partners and funding
Created with community and care partners.
Funding
Arts & Older People Programme 2025/26
Funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and supported by National Lottery funding.
Approved Arts Council of Northern Ireland and National Lottery logos must be added before final publication.
Project partners
Supporting delivery across community, health and care settings
Eglinton Medical Practice
Bovally Medical Practice
Deanfield Nursing Home
Developing Healthy Communities
Western Health & Social Care Trust
