Organisers are looking for volunteers to help with Memory Cafes across Southampton, and to make regular phone contact to check on the wellbeing of families living with dementia.
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Families living with dementia have struggled with extended periods of isolation over the course of the pandemic, according to project organisers, but both Memory Cafes and the Wellbeing Listening Service have made “a positive impact for people living with dementia”.
Now though current volunteer teams are at full stretch, with more families living with dementia seeking support.
Memory Cafes, which take place at various locations including in Bitterne Park and Highfield, are described as “a friendly safe place to meet regularly with other families living with dementia, somewhere to share and learn from your own and other’s experiences. There is no referral process, anyone with any memory difficulties is welcome.”
Wellbeing Calls for Dementia involved a volunteer being matched with a family living with dementia to make contact via the phone on a regular basis. This can be weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on the individual needs of the family living with dementia.
All volunteers receive training in both dementia and communication tspecific to their level of volunteering. Both services are looking for people who can give a little bit of time to help their community.
If you’re able to help, or would like to find out more, contact Ros Simpson on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Katherine Barbour This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
• The memory cafe in Highfield Church Centre has been so popular that it is moving to twice monthly from February 2022. It will be on first and third Tuesday of each month from 2pm to 4pm, viz 1st and 15th February 2022.
A memory cafe started at the Ascension Church in Bitterne Park and meets on 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 3pm to 4.30pm. In February, the service will meet on 9th and 23rd February 2022.