Bright Times: What We’ve Learnt About Purpose, Participation and Public Voice Through Citizen Journalism
Lunchtime Sessions 1
17 November, 2026 1:20 – 2:05 pmElectronic Posters
Dr Rebecca Truscott-Elves
Director of Creative Research
Bright Shadow
Summary
Bright Times is a magazine for everybody, written by people living with dementia and distributed through health, community and cultural settings across East Kent. Developed by dementia arts organisation Bright Shadow in partnership with Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, in response to conversations about the challenges of life after diagnosis caused by gaps in information and community, the project creates meaningful opportunities for people living with dementia to lead public conversations and contribute to dementia-positive culture.
Working alongside professional artists and journalists, a team of participant reporters has researched, written and published three editions of the magazine, distributing 2,500 copies and reaching an estimated pass-along readership of 7,500–10,000 people. Participants also contribute visual content through photography and illustration, alongside reporting, reviews, recommendations and creative writing.
This presentation explores what we have learned so far from the project, including the importance of meaningful roles, peer-led information sharing and public-facing creative outputs. We will discuss challenges around accessibility, participation and distribution, and share emerging learning supporting that contributors are strongly motivated by being heard, by having purpose and helping others. We will argue that high-quality public platforms can enable people living with dementia to contribute knowledge, advice, culture and support that benefits communities, while challenging deficit-based narratives around the condition.