Diss United Reformed Church celebrated the 10th anniversary of its popular Dove Dementia Café early this month.
The café first opened its doors in January 2015 to just one person with dementia. But over the years more and more have attended with the church now regularly seating between 50 and 60 people for lunch, all supported by a team of 20 volunteers.
Held on the first Wednesday of every month from 10am-1pm, the cafe is specifically for people living with dementia and their carers.
Ruth Bridges, the church’s Community Worker, said: “Our first hour is always spent together with hot drinks and cake. At this time, games such as dominoes are available, as are jigsaw puzzles and a quiz, but this is also a time for catching up with friends. During the second hour, there is a support group for the carers in a separate room should they wish to go to it. Everyone else takes part in an activity, with our members with dementia being supported by our wonderful volunteers. We have different activities each month which vary from art, poetry, music and exercise, to having outside entertainers visiting. Then we all come back together for the final hour for a light lunch.”
The dementia cafe was the first of Diss URC’s “Dove” groups to start and from it new branches of community support have grown. Dove Song is a music therapy group for people with dementia, whilst Dove Afternoon Tea provides prayers, readings and hymns in a dementia friendly format. In addition, Dove Song Plus is a singing group for those with complex needs living in local residential homes. Whilst finally the latest group to start is Dovelets, which is a sensory play, messy play and music group for children with special needs.
All of the Dove groups are offered free of charge and rely upon financial support from the church, the local community, grants and gifts. This year, Alan Pagan, the son of Gabrielle Pagan Diss URC’s Church Secretary, will be running the London Marathon on behalf of the Dove Dementia Cafe and hopes to raise £1000. If you’d like to support Alan and the café, donations can be made to his Just Giving page.
For further information on any of Diss URC’s groups please email Ruth Bridges at [email protected].