About Us

Making Memories Matter

Everyone ages. It is an inherent property of life. The later years of life can be especially challenging, but All Around the Shire is here to help. At All Around the Shire, we hold regular sessions within our community. The theme of the sessions will be on reminiscence with the focus being on companionship, tackling lonliness and isolation, maintaining well-being and social engagement, improving mental health in the over 50s.

Welcome to All Around the Shire

Unlocking local memories

Reminiscence groups

Specialist Reminiscence Groups

We offer relaxed, gently-paced sessions within your local community. During our time together, we will offer opportunities for unlocking memories from the past through stories, songs, poems, jokes and using real objects to stimulate memories.

Our 2020 sessions include:

When we were young

Mealtime Memories

Happy Holidays

The Fabulous Fifties

Historical Hats

My Mum had one of those

My Dad had one of these

The Swinging Sixties

That's Entertainment

Wartime and Victory

Festive fun at Christmas

Mealtime memories

Mealtime Memories contains recipes and reminiscences. It continues to delight all who read it. Copies are available to purchase from the website shop.

Who we are

Paul Barrass is a retired senior Occupational Therapist who has worked in the NHS for 37 years. He specialises in older people's mental health and has extensive experience of working with people with different types of dementia.

He has written several books including one on Friendship and Relationships. Paul gives training on dementia and how to live well with the condition.

His personal interests include historical re-enactment and local history.

Janet has worked as a special needs teacher with children with learning difficulties. She is also a qualified nurse and has been a co-ordinator in several care companies carrying out assessments and generating care plans for older people in the community.

We live in Belper, Mid-Derbyshire, with our two Jack Russells, Jack and Tilly.