The Living Memory Book Project
Supporing bereavment across our communities
"Working on this booklet has really helped me deal not only with the loss of my mother, herself a carer of her first son who is disabled, but also reflect on my own life as a kinship carer with some pride. Working on my book was at times a painful process, so is caring and so is bereavement, but so worth it"
Laura B
Who is it for?
The Living Memory Book Project is for anyone who has lost someone close to them.
Losing someone can be a very personal experience. The project gives you time and space to remember the person you have lost, share memories and create something meaningful.
How does it work?
The project begins with an informal, one-to-one, in-person session, followed by up to two phone or email sessions as needed. We also run bespoke group workshops across the region.
We will work with you to create your own Living Memory Book. You can:
- Share memories and stories about your loved one.
- Choose up to 40 photographs and other things you would like to include.
- Decide which memories and stories you would like to put in your book.
- Create a unique book that reflects the person you remember and the memories you shared.
You don't need to be good at writing or have any special skills.
Once your book is finished, it will be professionally printed and given to you as a lasting keepsake.
"The publication that was produced was simply amazing. it was like having therapy, remembering happy times and pulling memories from the past and sharing them. I will tell you there were tears of sadness and loss but also of joy remembering and sharing the fantastic life I had with my late wife."John H
Why is the project important?
Losing someone can be a difficult and lonely experience. Many people find it helpful to have time and space to talk about the person they have lost and share memories that are important to them.
The Living Memory Book Project offers a creative way to do this.
Creating a book can give you the opportunity to:
- Remember and talk about someone who has died and was important to you.
- Share memories and stories in your own words.
- Look through and organise photographs and other things that remind you of them.
- Create something lasting that you can keep and share with others.
A Living Memory Book is more than a collection of photographs and memories. It is a personal record of someone who was important to you and the life and memories you shared.
Everyone's experience of loss is different. There is no right or wrong way to remember someone, and you can share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with.
We believe that sharing and preserving memories can help people feel connected to the person they have lost and create something meaningful that they can return to in the future.
We are delighted to announce that The Living Memory Book Project has been awarded funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, made possible by National Lottery players. This vital support will enable us to expand our bereavement support work across Sandwell and Birmingham over the next 12 months, helping individuals and families navigate grief through storytelling, remembrance, and the creation of lasting tributes.
Our project provides a compassionate space for people to honour and celebrate loved ones who have passed away. By recording personal and collective memories, we help preserve irreplaceable stories while offering comfort through shared experiences. This funding will allow us to reach more bereaved individuals and families in our communities, ensuring no one has to face loss alone.
Thank you to National Lottery players for making this important work possible.
