A RIBBLE Valley care home is calling on the community to help residents take a trip down memory lane as it aims to recreate a thriving street of shops from yesteryear.

Riverside Care Centre, in Sawley, is appealing for donations of any 1950s memorabilia to create a quirky street of shop fronts along one of the home’s corridors.

The care home, which is owned and operated by Canterbury Care, is looking to forge partnerships with local businesses and raise money, which will help fund the initiative and enhance the reminiscence of themes.

The home provides residential and nursing care, including dementia care, to up to 40 residents and employs more than 30 members of staff.

It’s hoped that the shop fronts will be ready in July in time for the centre’s summer fete.

Centre manager Gail Ainsworth said: “The 1950s street is a fantastic initiative and will offer our residents the perfect opportunity to reminisce and re-kindle memories of their younger days.

“We have received good feedback from our residents and their families, and the presence of a pleasant, old-fashioned street will be a lovely addition to the home.

“We are now looking to build on this initial exciting idea and hope donations and sponsors will help us with this endeavour.

“Our residents are really looking forward to it and they have already started telling me what they would like to see in the shop fronts.

“This project will make a real impact on them because it helps to put them at ease and stir up memories from their past.

“We are hoping to make it a permanent fixture in the centre and also add a vintage pub at some point.

“A lot of our residents like to walk around the centre and the row of shop fronts will provide them with something interesting to look at and engage with.”

For details or to donate items, call 01200 441205.