A GROUP supporting people with dementia and their family members and carers has received an award.
The Memory Café at Doynton, which meets monthly and draws volunteers and visitors from Pucklechurch, Emersons Green, Downend, Wick, Hanham, Yate, Patchway, Marshfield and Colerne, was honoured by the Bristol Dementia Action Alliance.
Representatives attended the BDAA annual awards ceremony to receive their bronze award from actor and radio presenter Joe Sims.
Memory Café chair Sarah Salmon said: “We were absolutely delighted to receive the award from the BDAA.
“It acknowledges all the hard work that our volunteers put into making the cafe so successful and enjoyable for our visitors and their carers.
“In the future our plans include working more with our community to increase awareness of living with dementia.”
BDAA was formed in 2013 by Tony Hall and his wife Barbara to raise awareness of dementia across the city.
The Memory Café at Doynton was established in June 2022 and has more than 20 volunteers.
It is funded by grants and donations from local councils, organisations and individuals, as well as fundraising activities.
The café takes place on the first Thursday of the month from 2-4pm at Doynton Village Hall. Visitors are offered tea, coffee and home-made cake – thanks to local WI Groups.
Each café has a theme, entertainment or a group activity and craft, word search, puzzles, games, a themed display, singing, a library of advice leaflets and books for those newly diagnosed and books to stimulate memories.
The October café had a harvest theme and visitors were entertained by the Emersons Angels, a choir from Emersons Green Primary School.
For more information about the Memory Café at Doynton, email mcdoynton@gmail.com.