Support and companionship at the Café

The Memory Café in Moretonhampstead takes place on the last Thursday of every month, between 2pm and 4 pm at the Community Club on Court Street.

So what is a Memory Café? It’s somewhere where people who are experiencing memory problems, and their carers, come together for some fun, new experiences, support and companionship.

The Café is very much activity-focused: between 2pm and 2.30pm people arrive and settle in with a cup of tea. At 2.30pm we start our first activity which might be seated exercise to music, a cognitive exercise like a quiz, singing or chucking around a ‘getting to know you ball’! At 3pm we have tea and some delicious homemade cake, followed by our main activity, recent examples of which have been dog bingo, Morris dancing, reminiscence therapy and planting seeds in pots and decorating them. A local potter was present to do an informative, hands-on session in August and a similar session will be held with a shoemaker in October.

Every other month the carers have the option of attending a support group run in the hall at the same time as the Café. We hold a range of leaflets and booklets with up-to-date information for carers and those living with the condition.

The Café is free, though we do welcome donations towards the cost of refreshments.

We welcome people not just from Moretonhampstead but the surrounding villages too. If transport is an issue we can help with this.

Our Café is run by volunteers and we have links with Devon Carers and the Alzheimers Society.

One carer said: ‘It’s the one place where my mum and I can come and have fun together.’

Following a visit from a carers’ organisation, one representative said: ‘What a fantastic Memory Café, so calm yet so stimulating.’

For more information ring Julia Oliver 07779470504, or email juliaandkate@yahoo.co.uk

Julia Oliver

Moretonhampstead Memory Café