Reminiscence therapy: how football can help unlock lost memories for people living with dementia

What’s on offer?

This in-person event, being held in the Executive Lounge at Stevenage Football Club, will present the opportunity to members of the public affected by dementia, dementia service providers or those who have a professional interest in dementia.  Learn about a new, local football reminiscence programme for people living with dementia and their family supporters. Lasting around an hour, it will include a presentation, an opportunity to ask questions and refreshments.

What’s it about?

Research shows that reminiscence therapy can stimulate memories, reduce isolation, create friendships and new shared experience for people living with dementia and carers.  

Stevenage FC Foundation, in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire, are offering a 12-week reminiscence therapy programme for people living with mild to moderate dementia in the local community to take part in sessions focused on football. Using memorabilia, such as football shirts, visual aids, including photographs and football programmes and physical activity, the sessions have been designed to stimulate senses and evoke personal memories, as well as being used as a means to reintroduce physical activity – whether that be chair exercises or even table football.

This in-person event will give members of the public the opportunity to hear from Herts researchers - Dr Elspeth Mathie, reader in health and social care and Danny Buckley, senior lecturer in life sciences, plus Hannah Marsh, Head of Health and Wellbeing at Stevenage Football Club Foundation, who have been working together to deliver and evaluate the programme to understand the purpose, the benefits and how they themselves can get involved.

It will also highlight other collaborations the University’s researchers have been working on with a number of local organisations to support and improve services for people living with dementia.

Who’s leading the event?

Dr. Elspeth Mathie, reader in health and social care, University of Hertfordshire;

Danny Buckley, senior lecturer in life sciences, University of Hertfordshire

Open to

Adults, anyone with an interest in dementia. 

Please note that there is a room limit of 20, so please book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Of particular interest to

We would like to encourage members of the public, local residents who want to hear about a football programme for people living with dementia and also dementia service providers. It would also be of interest to researchers who want to collaborate with external local community organisations, and people interested in carrying out research with people living with dementia.