Digital Life Story Platform

Description

The Virtual Memory Box life story platform is a secure co-produced digital platform designed to enhance life story work for children and young people in our care. This is a fully interactive system that empowers children to curate their own memories. Life story work is a statutory requirement and a critical component in supporting identity formation and emotional well-being for children in care. Traditional approaches to life story work include a physical memory box which is vulnerable to loss or damage, particularly when children experience changes in their home or care arrangements. Childrens services alongside representatives from digital services team, ICT and procurement, completed an initial scoping exercise to explore the different platforms available. Three initial platforms were identified and approached for demonstrations. Only two providers responded and Virtual Memory Box was the best option due to the ease and security of the system but also because the platform is already used regionally by other Local Authorities and is being rolled out across Regional Adoption Agencies.