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Age Exchange
Age Exchange a UK charity founded in 1983 by Pam Schweitzer was the first organisation in Europe dedicated to reminiscence work. Age Exchange originally founded as a theatre company, opened its centre in Blackheath in London in 1987. Today it welcomes over 190,000 people each year who take part in Reminiscence Arts projects, and a whole range of creative activities for people of all ages. Much of the charity’s work is outreach and is delivered in partnership with organisations specialising in: health and social care, heritage and museums, the arts, and education. Age Exchange’s specialism Reminiscence Arts, developed over four decades is used to measurably improve the well- being and quality of life of participants who take part. Reminiscence Arts is used to empower people in the lives they live in the present.
My name is David Savill. I joined Age Exchange in 1998 and have been privileged to work for this extraordinary organisation for over 25 years. For the last 20 years I have been the charity’s Creative Director. For many years I have been concerned about how we record the work of Age Exchange, 100s of projects, many innovative and unique, delivered in London, across the UK, and overseas. This website though in its infancy is going to be our new Archive, a record of the work of Age Exchange. There is a mountain to climb to create an Archive worthy of the charity’s history and the story of the 1000s of people it has worked with. Our aim is to do just that. Along with the Archive of the work, the reminiscence, the exhibitions, production, plays, the way of working itself and how that has evolved, our aim is to help you who visit this archive learn from what is here. We hope the Archive will help you find inspiration to create your own projects which grow from a passion for Reminiscence Arts and how you can use this way of working to the benefit of your own community, wherever that might be.
When complete the Archive will contain: a catalogue of past Age Exchange projects, information about the practice and development of Age Exchange’s Reminiscence Arts model, links to other archives and projects which rest with current and former partners, film of our work, reflections on projects and the people we have worked with over many years by our team, and links to resources that may be useful to you in your own work. We hope you enjoy visiting this Archive.