Group: Little Chalfont Area Dementia Support
Project: Broadening Horizons
Grant: £1,250
Fund: Thematic Fund – Health and Wellbeing
Little Chalfont Area Dementia Support is the umbrella charity for two dementia cafés in Buckinghamshire; Café 22 in St. George’s Church Hall, Little Chalfont, and Café 23 in Amersham Town Football Club, Amersham. Both cafés are run by volunteers and offer a space for people with dementia and their carers to meet, access relevant services, and relieve isolation.
A grant from Heart of Bucks enabled the group to broaden their programme and introduce exciting and engaging new activities that brought smiles, laughter, and renewed energy to their guests.
Among the highlights was a delightful visit from two miniature pigs. Guests were invited to feed, pet, and even walk the pigs on leads. This was a wonderfully tactile and joyful experience that sparked laughter and light-hearted conversation throughout the Café.
Search Dogs Buckinghamshire delivered a fascinating session, with an engaging talk accompanying the calming presence of their highly trained dogs. Guests lit up as they interacted with and learned about the vital role these dogs play in searching for and recovering missing vulnerable adults and children.
For those with a spirit of adventure, the Café was visited by Jungle Juniors, a local organisation which offers people the chance to meet an array of exciting unusual animals. They brought along a variety of reptiles, amphibians, and even a tarantula! This gave guests a rare opportunity to engage closely with animals they’d only seen in books or on screens. It was an extraordinary experience that sparked curiosity and conversation.
Performances by the Amersham Brass Band, the U3A Choir, and Musicality provided a joyful atmosphere and opportunities for guests to sing along. Nostalgic songs stirred cherished memories and encouraged heartfelt participation.
Exercise sessions, provided by Horizon Rehabilitation helped to get everyone moving, maintain their flexibility, and improve their fine motor skills.
Finally, a comedy session filled the Café with laughter, while a local theatre group delivered a live performance that brought people together through the magic of storytelling.
By expanding their programmes and activities, Little Chalfont Area Dementia Support have not only helped to stimulate the minds of their guests with dementia, but also given carers and partners the chance to relax and share much needed joy and comfort.
Quote from beneficiary
Since my husband’s diagnosis of dementia, the nature of the disease means that not only his horizons, but also mine, have diminished. There is always a fear that social circles can shrink once there is a diagnosis of dementia, but thanks to Café 23 we now have a new circle of friends.
The range of activities is amazing, with different weeks offering crafts, music, speakers, quizzes, exercise and/or seasonal celebrations, all accompanied by a yummy selection of home made cakes; it has now become a highlight of each week. All the many volunteers look as though they are enjoying themselves and we are all always made to feel so welcome – the volunteers not only support us, but bake for us as well!
Wednesdays are the only day my husband gets up early, as Wednesdays are Café 23 days and he is raring to go.
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