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Sports memorabilia floods newspaper’s office after campaign plea

A regional daily’s office has been inundated with sporting memorabilia after a plea to help people with dementia.

The Chronicle, Newcastle, joined forces with Sporting Memories Network, a charity which started four years ago that uses sport to help people living with dementia, the elderly, and socially isolated.

The charity uses memorabilia to help invoke long-term memories of those taking part, and promote discussion to build their confidence.

Newcastle United FC match programmes from the 1960s, iconic framed photos, and classic shirts were among the sporting memorabilia donated at the Chronicle offices.

Chronicle reporter Spencer Brown with some of the donated memorabilia

Chronicle reporter Spencer Brown with some of the donated memorabilia

Tony Jameson-Allen, co-founder and director, said: “It enables people to tell their own stories around sport but we also have groups playing sports as well.

“It helps people to trigger memories which would otherwise be forgotten.”

The charity holds ‘reminiscence sessions’ at libraries, community centres and sports grounds across the country using the items donated to engage the minds of the attendees.

It has more than 80 groups across the country.