Dementia Friendly Parishes Around The Yealm COMMUNITY The River Yealm is situated in the and is surrounded by five rural parishes: Brixton, , , and . 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, 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