Blue Bins used the universal concept of “life advice” as its backbone, enabling participants to reflect on their lived experiences, capture memories and share wisdom that is often overlooked – all whilst highlighting what people with dementia still can do.

The project began with a series of co-produced creative writing workshops, designed in collaboration with STAND members to ensure accessibility and relevance. Each session provided a safe, supportive environment for participants to explore prompts around life lessons, advice they wished to pass on, or guidance they themselves had valued. Workshops were facilitated by experienced creative practitioners trained in working with dementia communities, ensuring sessions were inclusive, sensitive and empowering.

The writing produced was published in a 1/1 artbook we surprised the group with – creating a tangible legacy of their most cherished life advice, to be revisited, reread and reshared over and over again. Blue Bins preserves lived experiences whilst challenging misconceptions surrounding dementia by centring creativity and voice, reminding us all of the valuable life advice to be learnt from others.