A charity which provides a lifeline for people with dementia and their caregivers has received a much-need cash injection from Tamworth Co-operative Society.
Lichfield and Tamworth Dementia Caring has been handed £1,000 from the Society’s Cash in the Bag scheme to support the running costs of the group’s Time Out Club.
The volunteer-run club holds weekly activity and exercise sessions at Elford Village Hall for people in the area living with dementia, while also offering respite for carers.
Barry Coleman, a trustee of the group, said it was a wonderful surprise to be awarded the money which was raised from the sale of carrier bags.
Pictured at the cheque presentation are: (l-r): Whittington Co-op supervisor Lorraine Brown, the store’s manager Sheila Villers and Dementia Caring trustees Barry Coleman and Gill Willis.
“We are extremely grateful to Tamworth Co-op for this donation. It will help us so much. My wife was diagnosed with dementia when she was 54. She is in a nursing home now, but I looked after her for eight years and realised the significant challenges I and other carers were up against.
“So, we started this group to offer support. We provide half a day of care for people with dementia on a Wednesday. Caregivers can drop off the people they’re looking after, but we find a lot of them want to stay.
“We have 35 volunteers who come from all walks of life and a volunteer co-ordinator who trains and recruits volunteers.”
The club has now been running for a year and a half and organises a variety of activities, including music bingo, indoor golf, balloon tennis, craftwork and yoga, as well as exercise and movement sessions.
At the same time, carers have the chance to share their experiences with each other and exchange ideas.
Sheila Villers, manager of Whittington Co-op, who presented the cheque to the charity, said:
“Dementia is a condition which affects so many people and to be able to support a group doing such valuable work in the community is extremely rewarding.”
*Dementia Caring is opening a second club in Tamworth at St Peter’s Community Church in Glascote Heath. For more information about the group call Barry Coleman on 07769 690244 or visit dementiacaring.org.uk