Welcome Me

Meeting Centres for dementia are popping up all over the country and are funded through various means.  Fundamentally they all have some concepts which are the same, and the rest is decided by those who attend but all are built around the five pillars of wellbeing which include: Connecting with others, being active, learning new skills, giving to others/sharing and mindfulness (paying attention to the present moment)

• It is a community, non-medical, non-faith based location which operates for at least 3 days per week.  They are not usually attached to care homes/provision either.  Our ultimate goal is for a 7 day provision – we know how tough weekends can be.
• It is not a day care facility for individuals,  provides no personal care and does not deliver medication
• It is a safe space for people living with mild to moderate dementia to attend with a family member/friend/carer and will operate (after covid) on a drop in basis depending on numbers.
• There does not need to be a formal diagnosis in place – symptoms will be enough for us.
• It will help both attendees adjust to the life changes that take place by offering professional help and support from the Group Leader and from peer support and learning from activity coordinators.
• The centre wants to deliver more fun activities which cover cognitive stimulation, hobbies, crafts, gardening, baking, films, music, etc and maintaining life skills by being involved and responsible for tasks e.g. tea making etc, or elements of tasks, depending on capability, and thereby maintaining a sense of self-worth.

We fully intend for this meeting centre to be self-sustaining once it has become fully established – as others are.  But, we see the need now, and the 2 days we operate are not enough.  We have found an ideal location in a small village called Hooton, by the train station, with parking and on a good bus route.  It holds the ideal number of people and experience has shown us that 8 pairs per session in the most that can comfortably be accommodated.

Welcome Me started a little over a year ago and has to date helped over 48 people affected by memory difficulties.  We want to help more!

There is so much more to say but in essence what people who live with dementia have told us is that they want a “one stop shop” to go to for help, advice and information personal to them so they can navigate the ongoing changes to their lives. The Meeting Centre, Welcome Me, is providing that solution for many. One carer said "I was lost before I found Welcome Me.  It is our favourite day of the week and well worth the hours commute each way".  Another said "I was so nervous and apprehensive about attending a new group.  When we arrived it felt like we had just walked into a warm hug".  Through the centre, we can provide help, support, advice and care right the way through and even after they no longer fit the criteria to attend.  The possibilities of what we can do are endless and the model has a proven track record as researched by Worcester University.  Please help us reach more people, to help them live as well as possible with these difficulties.