Case Study: Stephen Muldowney-Mizen – Amplifying Older People’s Voices
Stephen is a local artist, poet, and staff member at Communicare Southampton. He first joined as a Local Connector after contributing to Pub Cultures, where he co-created a community poetry book The Hop Inn – Our Pub is their home – Southampton Forward. Since then, he has championed the involvement of older people in cultural projects.
City Reflections 2: Illuminating Southampton’s Stories
As a Community Curator, Stephen focused on ensuring older people’s stories were represented. He engaged 14 older people through a guided visit to SeaCity Museum, where selected objects sparked conversations about Southampton’s past.
At Communicare, Stephen built on this by:
- Running workshops to share insights and gather reflections.
- Involving volunteers to contact isolated residents, capturing their memories of the docks.
- Collecting and curating stories that connect lived experience with museum collections.
One participant’s engagement deepened so much that:
“One woman after the SeaCity museum has signed up to everything at Communicare and I see her a lot more now after the visit.” – Stephen
Impact on Stephen
Through this work, Stephen has grown as both a facilitator and storyteller:
- Gained confidence in leading storytelling with older people.
- Learned to balance many voices and ideas into one narrative.
- Discovered the richness of city archives and felt inspired by the scale of Southampton’s history.
- Recognised the importance of not just inviting people to events but truly listening and celebrating their stories.
“One thing I have really enjoyed is being able to lead my community in storytelling. Everyone loves being able to tell their side of the story — volunteers or service users, in person or over the phone. Making space to listen and celebrate these stories is so important.” – Stephen
Impact on Community
Stephen’s work has helped older people feel valued, connected, and more engaged in Southampton’s cultural life. His approach demonstrates how heritage can spark pride, connection, and well-being for communities often underrepresented.