Brian Norris is the founder and Executive Director of Living Memories C.I.C., a UK award-winning not-for-profit social enterprise incorporated in 2016. Its primary mission is to use archive films and newsreels from the 20th century to create and deliver imaginative reminiscence services and resources, including Living Memories Online, which help reduce the isolation of older people, including those living with dementia.
Before founding Living Memories C.I.C., Brian worked as an international media lawyer and practitioner and had been involved in community projects for over 60 years.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
I grew up in the 1950s in a south coast seaside resort in England. In my early years, I spent time each day with my grandparents and two aunts who lived nearby. Without much traffic in those days, we were able to play outside and ride our bikes, as long as we were home for meals! When I was 11, I was fortunate to be accepted into a grammar school 30 miles away, which involved catching the London train morning and evening for the next seven years. As a result, at a young age, I got to chat with fellow passengers on their way to work—senior businessmen, academics, politicians, and broadcasters—which helped me develop my understanding of the world and a feeling that I wanted to work internationally.
Every industry that is now a large-scale, top-notch business once started as a small idea in the minds of entrepreneurs. What was that idea or motivation that made you start your business/initiative? What motivated you within to say YES, go for it!
In 2012, my wife and I were living in a community of 12 houses in a beautiful but isolated rural area of Cornwall, England, 6 miles from shops. We could see that many older neighbours were feeling very lonely. My wife owns a documentary film archive company set up in 1938 that she inherited, which owns many programmes from the 20th century. We decided to invite some of the elderly neighbours to come to our home for tea and biscuits to watch several of the films. We started the screening, and smiles immediately lit up the faces of our guests, who became very animated as memories were triggered while watching images from their younger years. They just wanted to keep chatting and then asked if they could visit us to watch more films. That was the motivation for us to say YES. We knew that we had to find ways to offer archive film programmes across the UK and beyond. So we spent over two years visiting care homes and community Memory Cafes across the county and in Devon, running reminiscence sessions that convinced us to set up the non-profit Living Memories C.I.C. and create a series of DVDs, each with a Reminiscence Guide, which were Finalists in the UK Nursing Times Awards in 2017. To enhance our resources as digital technology developed, over the last three years, we created our international reminiscence streaming platform Living Memories Online. The DVDs still play a role when internet services are unavailable.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
We all lead busy lives, but I speak to many people across generations who say, “I wish that I had asked my older family members about their lives when they were children and growing up. I missed out on their stories and didn’t talk to them about the people in the old photos in the family photo album that have nothing written on the back!”
All of us can learn a lot from chatting with older family members and neighbours for a few minutes and asking them about their favourite books or activities. Alternatively, if you have time, pop into a nearby care home or community group and ask if you can help with the activities. If you are interested in creating a Memory Box for yourself (no matter how young you are) or with a family member or friend, I’d be pleased to send you a Create A Memory Box Guide if you email me at brian.norris@livingmemories.io.
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women leadership today?
From my perspective, thanks to digital technology, many new opportunities are being created in the health and care sectors around the world, which will lead to new roles. The development of care in the community is becoming more practical, and there is growing awareness at the government level of the importance of reminiscence, using film, music, dancing, and sensory resources to improve the health and well-being of older adults, including those with mental, vision, and hearing impairment. This means that there are some great opportunities for women entrepreneurs to use resources such as Living Memories Online, plus other materials, to create a viable business offering to run group activities in care homes, residential homes, and other locations where local residents can meet up.
What’s the most important thing you have learned in your personal life and professional journey? What is your personal motto in life?
Think positively and believe in yourself. My motto is “Persistence Pays.”
With your grit and determination, you are making a considerable impact, breaking through, and serving as role models for many budding entrepreneurs. What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
Whether you are interested in working in the charity or commercial sectors, make sure that the role you choose will be fulfilling and positively influence your health and well-being.
Your website link
https://www.livingmemoriesonline.com
