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About the Project

During 2020, while residents in our care homes across Bedfordshire were facing greater isolation than ever, we tried to find new ways to connect with them and let them know they were not forgotten, and Timeless Tales came into being through a partnership between The Place and local charity Friends For Life.

Our Timeless Tales campaign aims to bring stories, songs and poetry into care homes – initially this was done virtually, though during 2021 we have been able to make in-person garden visits to some local homes.  One of the eventual aims of the project is that residents might write and record their own tales to share with us too.  

Over several months in 2020-2021, recordings of children, adults and families reading their favourite stories or poems were sent to care homes to play to residents.  

We would love you to be part of this.  If you’ve written something you would like to share, or have a favourite you could read and record, or if you’d like to be part of on site visits to care homes – please get in touch! 

Here’s how the project started:

What participants said about the on-site visits during Art In Care Homes Week, September 2021:

“I have been involved with Timeless Tales since its inception and it has been a fantastic experience. From recording pieces to send to homes virtually, to being able to go into homes in person over the last couple of weeks, has been so uplifting. The visits were such a moving experience, the residents were engaged and seemed to really enjoy the readings. I would love to be involved in the future and take more poetry and prose selections into local care homes”
Poetry Visitor
“I just wanted to pass on my huge thanks to you and your fabulous team for so kindly giving up your time and talents for our wonderful Bedford care home residents. To be able to offer something creative, even if outside and with a few residents, you have made a huge difference. Our residents have been without face to face performances and creative interactions for such a long time and you are helping us to bring them back; I can't thank you enough.”
Charlie Fay
Friends For Life
“This morning I visited two care homes and sang a few songs with my guitar as part of the Timeless Tales project in collaboration with Friends For Life. Music is such a universal and powerful language and I was moved by the response of the residents who joined in with many of the songs and knew all the words. I noticed one gentleman who had tears in his eyes when I sang Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow. I think songs have a real capacity to break through all sorts of age and gender barriers and I was genuinely uplifted by the experience.”
Music Visitor