Published: Thursday, 25th June, 2009 6:00pm

Memories are made of this

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Reading Museum staff Amy Hogg and Stuart Kennedy with the Memory Boxes
Pic by: Paul Johns

THE SCENT of old-fashioned soap, the yellowed pages of a Noddy book and the sparkle of Christmas decorations are among the things that may spark memories and discussion.

Reading Museum"s Memory Boxes are packed with objects to trigger recollections and are sent out to clubs and care homes but new, smaller Carers" Boxes will enable people looking after someone at home to access the service.

Box maker Linda Hone said: 'The carers can now go in and work with someone one to one using the boxes.

'There is evidence to suggest that by tapping into the long-term memory there is an improvement in the short term memory, so we also go out to a lot of the council care homes in Berkshire and we train their activity co-ordinators how to use the Memory Boxes and they pay a nominal sum of money to join the service.

'Then the boxes can be delivered through the mobile library.

'It is an opportunity for people to handle the objects, it gives them a chance to speak about their past and remember.'

She added: 'We have even used them at Prospect Park mental hospital with young people with depression. By talking about Christmasses they remember, or something else, it just opens up a conversation.'

The museum currently has 30 memory boxes but hopes to secure funding to increase the number to 50. For more information contact the museum on 0118 939 9800 or visit www.readingmuseum.org.uk