Challenge

We were set up, as a reminiscence therapy, to help people living with dementia to connect to their memories but soon realised that we could help all sorts of people, including older people living in assisted accommodation and young adults with learning disabilities. In recent months, due to the Covid-19 crisis, people living in care homes have been unable to receive visits from their loved ones. This has been extremely confusing and distressing for them.

Solution

We developed a web based app to help those suffering from dementia (there is medical research that demonstrates the positive impact of reminiscence on dementia sufferers) as well to help their carers give better care. By logging the life story of the dementia sufferer through video, audio, text and images, carers and/or dementia sufferers can create digital “books”. The app is now available all over the UK and families can add unlimited photos, videos, music and voice messages to the app. This can be played out to loved ones who they are currently unable to visit. With the support of carers, it allows people in care homes to hear from the people who know and love them best.

Whilst Book of You was developed initially as a tool to help people with dementia, it is now used in all sorts of settings, including community groups and by people who are separated from other family members by geography.

Revenue model: selling goods to individuals, B2C

Individuals can subscribe to Book of You for a one-off payment of £25. Licences for organisations cost £1295, including staff and volunteer training.

Impact

Without social investment we would not have been able to develop the app which is bringing people closer together through the lockdown, and we know it could be a highly valuable tool for so many more – not just those in care homes but those who have been isolated from their families to stay safe. There has never been a better time to listen to their stories. It’s a privilege that we shouldn’t take for granted.

– Kathy Barham, Director

We made this social investment in 2016, from our SE-Assist Wales Fund to support this innovative social enterprise scale up their app because we believed this team could significantly increase the impact over coming years. We are now delighted to see the impact it has had, especially during the Covid-19 crisis.

– CAF Venturesome