Dementia Friendly Parishes Around The Yealm COMMUNITY The River Yealm is situated in the South Hams and is surrounded by five rural parishes: Brixton, Yealmpton, Wembury, Newton and Noss and Holbeton. Combined population:
CONTEXT
In 2011 local parish councillors and Saltram Rotary came together to form the Dementia Friendly Parishes around the Yealm.
Funding from Saltram Rotary, Devon County Council, local parish councils and various charitable trusts allowed the initiative to recruit a Project Co-ordinator.
The Committee of members include parish council representatives, voluntary sector or- ganisations, people living with dementia and their families, faith groups and local people.
OUR JOURNEY SO FAR
The Project Co-ordinator visits 45 families and has developed a programme of activities in response to local people’s interests including: Shared Reading groups, afternoon tea at Riverford and exercise classes.
The project fundraises every year to support the activities and resources needed.
WHAT HAVE WE LEARNT?
Importance of social activities which are open to everyone in the community and not lim- ited to people with dementia proves valuable for community as a whole.
Creating a Dementia Friendly initiative has enabled local people to stay out of hospital and feel supported by neighbours.
Parish councils involvement helps the sustainability of the initiative.
LINKS & RESOURCES
Dementia Friendly Parishes: http://www.dementiayealm.org/
Brixton Feoffee Trust: http://www.brixton-village.co.uk/feoffee.htm
Rotary Club Saltram: http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.php?ClubID=1501
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dementiayealm