"Joy and connection": How SERVE use digital to tell life stories

Paul Probert (Life Stories Coordinator - West Northamptonshire) and Carol Soames (Life Stories Coordinator - North Northamptonshire) are part of SERVE’s Befriending team. SERVE is a long-established charity based in Rushden and has been supporting the community for over 40 years.

Since May 2023, the Befriending team from SERVE have been delivering a project designed to help older people, particularly those experiencing cognitive decline, to capture and share their life stories in a new digital format.

“The project is commissioned by Integrated Care Northamptonshire and brings together a few different strands,” Paul explains. “At its core, it’s about helping people tell their story. We do that one-to-one or in small groups, and we support them in using digital tools to record memories. That can be in writing, voice or by linking to relevant videos or images.”

The result is a digital book, searchable and shareable, which tells each person’s unique story in their own words and voice. It’s part of a wider effort to support people who may be isolated or beginning to experience memory loss, helping them to stay mentally active and socially connected.

Paul joined SERVE in late 2024, and although the Life Stories programme was already running, it was still relatively new in the West Northamptonshire area. Much of his work since then has involved building awareness of the project, particularly by working with local community groups and healthcare professionals.

“I spend a lot of time out and about,” he says. “Today, for example, I’ve just come back from a group in Towcester that focuses on falls prevention and mobility. I was invited in to speak to them about the project, and we had a really good discussion about local memories. Several people expressed an interest and signed up there and then.”

Referrals also come through GPs and Social Prescribers, as well as through SERVE’s own networks. Once someone is signed up, the next step is to help them get started with the digital platform.

“We support them with everything from logging onto a device to deciding how they want to structure their story,” Paul says. “They might want to create chapters like ‘Growing Up’ or ‘Work Life’, and we can help them use life story interviewing techniques to shape the content.”

One of the central parts of the programme is its use of trained volunteers, who are paired with participants to help guide and support them through the process. These volunteers are part of SERVE’s befriending service, which aims to offer regular social contact alongside practical help.

“Volunteers meet people in their homes or in community settings and sit with them, sometimes over weeks or months, to build their story. It’s very flexible. Some people work quickly, others take more time. But there’s no pressure. It’s about making the person feel heard and supported.”

Once the content is complete, participants have the chance to review their story and make any changes. Family members are often invited to get involved at this stage, helping to source photos or background information. Paul says this intergenerational element is one of the most rewarding aspects of the project.

“Someone recently was talking about VE Day in their village,” he says. “We helped them look up old newspaper clippings and found a photo of local children climbing on a tank. It was a real connection moment. These shared stories help bring families closer together.”

The completed book can be shared digitally with up to three chosen people, and there’s an option to have it printed. The key focus, though, is on helping people create something meaningful and lasting, a legacy that they can pass on.

As well as preserving memories, the project has significant cognitive benefits. “There’s good evidence that reminiscence can help people stay mentally sharp,” Paul says. “It helps reactivate neural pathways, which is important for brain health.”

He uses the analogy of a bookshelf to describe how memories are stored. “As people age, or if they’re living with dementia, the more recent books - the ones on the top shelf - are harder to reach. But we often find that by talking about older memories, we can also help bring some of the more recent ones back within reach.”

A major part of the project’s success is its digital element. The platform used is developed by VerseOne and tailored for use across Northamptonshire. It includes life story tools as well as a feature called ‘Tell Your Story Once’, which helps people record everyday preferences that might be useful for carers - things like how they like their tea or their daily routine.

Digital confidence is also supported through one-to-one and group sessions. “We run digital workshops where we show people how to turn on a device, connect to Wi-Fi, and stay safe online. That in itself can help reduce isolation, especially when people learn how to book appointments or stay in touch with family more easily.”

SERVE are keen to grow the programme further and has one simple ask for local businesses, public sector organisations and anyone reading: more volunteers.

“Volunteering is good for your own wellbeing as well,” he says. “You’re forming a connection, giving something back. And for just a couple of hours a week, you could make a real difference in someone’s life.”

SERVE provides full training for volunteers, including safeguarding, life story interviewing and digital support. Volunteers are matched with people in their own communities to minimise travel and help build local networks.

“The thing I’d really like to highlight,” Paul adds, “is how much joy and connection this project brings. It gets people talking, sharing, laughing, sometimes crying. And it brings communities closer together. Every story matters.”

David BevanDigital Northants stories