Making a Fun Palace with people with dementia, their carers – and everyone else!

“There is no door on our unit and people who come in often might not actively seek out becoming involved in a project like ours … We work with those with dementia and their carers as well as people from all backgrounds and ages. We all have a story to tell.”

Thelma uses reminiscence and community history to bring people together to share memories, learn new skills and have fun. Based in Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, Edinburgh we produce exhibitions, books, podcasts, art, drama and our new radio station broadcasting memories across the world. Pop in and see us – all welcome!

Help! Where has the year gone? It’s August already and our third year of Fun Palace is weeks away.

“We heard great stories from people who don’t normally exchange their memories and thoughts.”

We are ‘Thelma’ (the Living Memory Association) and we use reminiscence and community history to bring people together, share memories, learn new skills and have fun. We are based in Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre in Leith, Edinburgh in our ‘Little Shop of Memory’ and last
2017 was our Fun Palace year of dance. A ‘pop up’ dancehall in a shopping centre. We had folk showing us how to Rock and Roll and Jive, we had memories of going to the dancing from 1930s to the 1960s. Last year our theme was comedy all the way. Jokes in Scots and workshops in ‘stand up’. Yes, two people did indeed go on to have slots at a local comedy club, but even better than that, we heard some great stories from people who don’t normally engage and exchange their memories and thoughts.

“A chance to pass on some of the knowledge we’ve gained and give over ‘air time’ to others.”

Because of our location, we have people wandering in while out shopping. There is no door on our unit and people who come in often might not actively seek out becoming involved in a project like ours. They sit down and have a chat and get involved in a whole range of activities. It is non threatening, welcoming and open to all – seven days a week. We work with those with dementia and their carers as well as people from all backgrounds and ages. We all have a story to tell. We have a fantastic team of volunteers whose energy, knowledge and enthusiasm keeps Thelma vibrant and imaginative.

This year? Well during the Fun Palaces weekend, we will extend the opening hours of our ‘hands on’ museum – ‘The Little Shop of Memory’. No better place to engage in some unexpected heritage. However, there is a new, exciting strand to our Fun Palace in 2019 – radio. We’ve been busy developing and piloting Thelma FM, ‘Records and Reminiscence,’ an internet radio station. It’s been an enjoyable but a steep learning curve. Fun Palaces this year seems like a good chance to pass on some of the knowledge we’ve gained and give over some ‘air time’ to others. We love this medium for our work. What could be better than coming in for a Thelma FM Fun Palace workshop on the Saturday and then be broadcasting ‘live’ by the Sunday.

Related Links

Thelma – The Little Shop of Memory