Silver Stories flowed from an earlier Action Research project called EXTENDING CREATIVE PRACTICE (2010-2012) which demonstrated the efficacy of digital storytelling as means to engage older people and marginalised groups in the use of ICT. SILVER STORIES extended this research into new areas by working with professionals and providing a greater emphasis on the stories told.Our research activity aimed to: Adapt and transfer learning methods from EXTENDING CREATIVE PRACTICE across the whole partnership and extend it to two new countries and, provide Vocational Education and Training (VET) for a new target professional group – i.e. trainers and employees working in the caring professions across the whole partnership. Establish a means for Digital Storytelling to be incorporated into the on-going training of health and care professionals in all the partner countries. Research the use of digital storytelling by older people to gain a clearer understanding of why people tell specific stories Investigate the scope for developing a systematic approach to the collection of Digital StoriesThe partnership included organisations with expertise in Digital Storytelling (Digitales, Digital Story Lab, Mitra, Trapezio, University of Brighton), provision of vocational training for targeted professionals (University of Brighton, Leiria, Laurea and the Progress Foundation), evaluation (CUCR) and research (University of Brighton, DigiTales). It combined the skills, experience and knowledge needed to develop the vocational use of Digital Storytelling in the caring professions. This was supplemented by long standing working relationships and a successful track record in the delivery of pan European research projects. The project’s legacy can be seen in the range of activity happening across – and beyond – the partner countries.Silver Stories connected practice and professional training to research through a series of interventions. The foundation of the research was a Needs Analysis. This provided a background to digital storytelling work that has taken place in higher education settings, with a particular focus on working with older people. Silver Stories leaves an immediate legacy by: Integrating Digital Storytelling into the training of professionals working with Stage 3 (active) and Stage 4 (frail) older people through training and the development of quality assured modules. These modules have been extensively tested during the two-year programme and can be downloaded from this site. Module 1. Module 2
 Developing sustainable professional expertise in the provision of Digital Storytelling Workshops for a range of beneficiaries in each of the participating countries. The partners have completed a Guide for those in the caring professions who wish to use Digital Storytelling as part of their professional toolkit.