About
The Idea for the project emerged from a major research project Connecting through Culture as we Age at the University of Bristol’s School of Education. It centred on co-designing new tools and services to help older people engage with culture in its broadest definition.
The company was founded in response to extensive research into the importance of creative and cultural experiences in reducing social isolation and improving wellbeing.
Tabletop Travels registered as a CIC in 2025 following extensive collaboration and support from partner organisations and people in the commmunity accross the Southwest and funding from the UKRI in 2023 and 2024.
The CIC is led by a Board of Directors, each of whom have been instrumental in developing the concept alongside our co-researchers in the community.
In November 2025, the directors brought in a freelance Creative Director to lead the company in its next stage of development.
Meet Jeanne…
Our co-researcher and originator of Tabletop Travels! This solution is rooted in lived experience and co-design principles and it was Jeanne who came up with the idea for a curated travel box as part of the ESRC-funded project, Connecting Through Culture As We Age, at the very beginning of our journey in 2021.
Jeanne lives alone in Bristol with chronic health problems and can no longer travel but this hasn’t dimmed her passion for life and for exploration. Jeanne brings a unique perspective to project. Through her participation in CTCAWA she saw the need for a way to travel from home and the idea was born!
Dr Tot Foster - CIC Director
Tot led Tabletop Travels since its inception in 2023 and was the co-designer alongside Jeanne. She was instumental in securing the funding needed to bring TableTop Travels to life, using her extensive experience in co-design and co-research with marginalised groups.
Additionally, Tot freelances in Higher Education and charity sectors producing media, as a teacher and mentor regularly. Tot supports academics and organisations develop their documentary storytelling and production skills, working with community interest companies and local people to create oral histories.
Dr Helen Manchester - CIC Director
Helen’s research and academic foundation has underpinned the development of Tabletop Travels throughout. Her rigorous research, which continues to guide the design of each boc, underpins our unique approach to the curation of our boxes. Helen’s research has shown that activities that encourage older adults to actively smell, taste, look, listen and touch can evoke stories and memories that enhance new connections and build new relationships.
Helen is know internationally for her participatory co-design research projects with older people, community and cultutral organisations. She is currently Future Studio lead for the ESRC Centre for Sociodigital Futures and Professor of Participatory Sociodigital Futures at University of Bristol. Helen has published and presented widely in co-design and in research around older people’s cultural lives.
Emily Roberts - CIC Director
Emily led as Tabletop Travels Commercialisation Lead and is now a CIC Director, ensuring Tabletop curates authentic and meaningful boxes that ensure older adults have the opportunity to experience unique travel destinations from the comfort of home
Emily brings extensive experience working with children at Barnardo’s and has been a whizz at making sure Tabletop Travels is securely established as a non-profit company.
Rachel Adams - Creative Director
Rachel leads on operations for Tabletop Travels — having curated the pilot box in Athens. As Creative Director, Rachel leads on the development of new partnerships, sourcing long-term support and creating a sustainable business plan that enables Tabletop to thrive.
Rachel has nearly 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector, working at the intersection of arts, health & wellbeing and social impact. Rachel is co-founder of Wyldwood, a community arts company based in the Forest of Dean and has worked for a range of organisations, with a focus on supporting fledgling companies with business development and income generation.