Pupils and elderly people have joined forces to create a new exhibition which will form part of an event celebrating age across Norfolk.

Children from Jane Austen College, Norwich, have made scrapbooks with residents of Silkfields Sheltered Housing, on Mandela Close, Norwich, which will act as memory banks if the elderly develop dementia, Alzheimer's, or need to live in care homes.

The five scrapbooks, which compares residents' memories with today's society as seen through the eyes of the school-children, will be exhibited at The Forum, Norwich, tomorrow and on Thursday.

It will form part of a two-day event at The Forum organised by Norfolk Celebrates Age, a partnership of care organisations, charities, and businesses.

Susan Ringwood, chief executive of Age UK Norwich, said: 'This exhibition will raise awareness to the positive contribution older people have and continue to make in today's society.

'The ongoing life stories work we do is an important project helping to prevent older people from becoming invisible.'

The pupils and residents paired up to produce the scrapbooks, working together in sessions every week since May.

Olivia Allerton, 12, a Jane Austen College pupil who worked on a scrapbook with 75-year old Silkfields resident Barry Stanton, said: 'I've enjoyed talking about Norwich when Barry was young.

'I want to be a graphic designer so I've really enjoyed making the scrapbooks.'

Mr Stanton said: 'It has helped me remember things from my younger days.

'It's also been interesting talking about Olivia's life at school - things now are very different from when I was young.'

College teacher Amy Coombe said the project had given the pupils a sense of responsibility towards the community outside school.

Helen Burgess, fundraising manager at Age UK Norfolk, said: 'It's about keeping that person's identity alive,

'Hopefully it's a project we can do on an anual basis.'

The free exhibition can be seen between 9am-5pm tomorrow and on Thursday at the Forum.

There will also be stalls from organisations and individuals relating to Norfolk's elderly population.

For more information about the event call 01603 727950 or email info@theforumnorwich.co.uk

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