At the recent Makers’ Market, Dementia Friendly Congleton had a charity stall. Diane Ritherdon, the chair, had been given a lovely hamper by Pilates Alderley.
As well as the hamper, which created lots of interest, the newly published 8-page edition of CONGLETON ACTIVITIES for the Young at Heart was available for collection. This contains details of many activities which are inclusive and a list of useful contact phone numbers, including cost of living advice, food support., buddying and befriending. Copies of the leaflet will be available from the information centre, the Library, the Museum, the Old Saw Mill and the social prescribers at the GP surgeries.
The team of Diane Ritherdon, Edith Birtles – representing the Forget me Not Club at New Life Church and David Morris of Congleton Lions manned the stall with help from friends.
As well as buying £300 of raffle tickets, people stopped to chat and find out the support offered by many local organisations. Many had poignant stories of relatives and loved ones affected by dementia.
David Morris had a sample of the electronic dementia buddy which is a programmable watch, pendant or other device to assist if a person living with dementia wanders off. Application via the Lions who subsidise the cost for people living locally – details in the leaflet above.
At the request of the hamper donors, the proceeds of the raffle will be used to support the work of the Green Tree House community shop in Lawton St as well as the Dementia Friends swap shop of dementia suitable activities located in the Library.
At the end of the day a tired, Diane Ritherdon thanked the kind hearted people of Congleton for their interest and donations. The network of support in Congleton continues to amaze me, she said. We truly are a kind town.