On Tuesday 16th September, the Tabletop Travels team were delighted to launch their new Malta experience box with a tea party held at the Beehive Centre in Whitehall, Bristol where 50 older people enjoyed a special Malta-themed dinner before being each presented with one of the new boxes.
University of Bristol researchers and partner organisations were working with older people in the local community on a project in 2021 called Connecting Through Culture As We Age when they met Jeanne, who lives alone with chronic health problems. Jeanne came up with the idea of a curated travel box.
Dr Tot Foster, Senior Research Associate in the School of Education, has led the Tabletop Travels project since its formal inception in 2023, working alongside Jeanne and other older adults. Professor Helen Manchester, Professor of Participatory Sociodigital Futures has also been involved throughout. Tabletop Travels is the result of extensive collaboration and support from partner organisations, each of whom bring a wealth of skill and knowledge. Two notable partners from inception are Alive Activities and Stand & Stare who work in creative agencies ageing and design respectively.
The team have since set up a Community Interest Company and had success with their first two travel boxes. The first was the Athens Box, and the second was a Budapest box.
Each box is designed to enrich through taste, smell, seeing, hearing and sharing. Working in partnership with local guides across Europe, the boxes are carefully curated and include a range of items that reflect the rich culture and local life of the curators and destinations.
To enhance the experience, each box provides access to exclusive video and sound clips designed to build basic digital skills for older adults.
Dr Foster said: “More than two million older adults in the UK face chronic loneliness. Many are no longer able to travel or take part in social activities due to health, mobility or cognitive barriers. We want to bring joy, comfort and connection to their doorstep through the power of storytelling, memory, and the senses.
“Our curated, multisensory experience boxes are the result of detailed academic research on how to combat the growing challenge of loneliness and isolation in older people.
“It is really heartwarming to see the impact the boxes have, with people connecting and sharing memories of their travels.”
The Malta box includes an array of items sourced from the island including a local drink called Kinnie, handmade lace, marbles, a fridge magnet, fig oil, and a glass Maltese cross made from Mdina glass.
Fay, one of the recipients of the boxes, said: “I think it is a lovely idea, I also received the Athens box at Christmas. It is brilliant to show my family and talk with them about travel and holidays – the items help to jog old memories.”
Professor Helen Manchester added: “Our research shows that activities which encourage older adults to actively smell, taste, look, listen and touch can evoke stories and memories that enhance new connections and build new relationships. It also highlighted that while travel and getting out of the house is increasingly difficult as we age, the desire to experience the world does not necessarily diminish.”
The Beehive Centre is a fully accessible community hub and meeting place which aims to reduce social isolation and loneliness in the community, hosting activities designed with older people and disabled people in mind.
Amber Williams, manager at The Beehive Centre, said: “We were really pleased to host this event – we previously held an event for the launch of the Athens box which went down really well it is lovely to see members of our lunch club enjoying opening their boxes here today, you can see how much it means to them.”
Janey Barrett, Wellbeing Lead at cancer health charity Penny Brohn UK, said: “We are planning to pilot providing boxes at one of our retreats for people with advanced diagnosis. It seems like a really lovely activity, simple and fun, and provides a great focal point for discussion.”
For more information visit: Tabletop Travels