TAMESIDE families facing a cancer diagnosis are set to benefit from a groundbreaking partnership designed to help preserve precious memories and strengthen family connections.
Tameside and Glossop NHS Charity has become the first in the country to partner with Featherbed Tales, bringing its digital storytelling platform to patients receiving care through Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Cancer Services.
Founded by author and storyteller Caroline M England, it creates personalised digital talking photo books, combining photographs, messages, videos and voice recordings.
For many patients, particularly those receiving palliative care, the books provide an opportunity to leave behind treasured stories, memories and messages for loved ones to revisit in years to come.
The idea behind Featherbed Tales was inspired by Caroline’s own experiences of loss.
After a close friend died, leaving behind a young son, she witnessed how a simple voice recording helped maintain a lasting connection between mother and child.
That experience, alongside hearing an old friend’s voice instantly revive decades of memories, inspired the concept behind the project.
Through this new partnership, cancer patients and their families will be able to create personalised books featuring family stories, favourite memories, messages of love and the familiar voices of those closest to them.
Steph Gooder, Lead Cancer Nurse at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Cancer changes lives in an instant and its impact reaches far beyond the person receiving treatment. We know that many patients worry about their loved ones and how they will cope.
“Featherbed Tales offers families an opportunity to capture precious moments, conversations and memories together.
“For some, it may be a way of preserving a voice or sharing messages that can be treasured in the future. It is a beautiful and compassionate resource and we’re incredibly proud that patients in Tameside and Glossop will be the first in the country to benefit from it through an NHS trust.”
The programme will also be used by healthcare teams to create personalised resources that help patients better understand treatments, prepare for appointments and reduce anxiety during their care.
Emily Whelan, Charity Manager at Tameside and Glossop NHS Charity, said the project reflects the charity’s commitment to improving the experience of patients and their families.
She said: “When we first heard about Featherbed Tales, we were moved by its simplicity and impact.
“The ability to capture somebody’s voice, their stories, their laughter and the things they want their family to remember is incredibly powerful.
“While we hope it brings comfort throughout treatment, we also recognise that for some families these recordings and memories may become treasured keepsakes in the years to come.
“As the first NHS charity and trust in the country to introduce this programme, we’re incredibly proud to be leading the way and bringing something truly special to local families.”
Caroline M England, founder of Featherbed Tales, added: “We are absolutely over the moon to be working with the wonderful team at Tameside and Glossop.
“This partnership means so much to us, not only because it is our first NHS hospital partnership, but because it allows us to support families at a time when connection, comfort and memory-making matter most.
“Every family story is unique and every voice is precious. We hope Featherbed Tales helps families create something meaningful that can be treasured both now and in the future.”
The partnership aims to complement clinical treatment by offering emotional support, ensuring patients and their loved ones have the opportunity to create lasting memories together during some of life’s most challenging moments.