may sound like a national charity organisation, but we run as a "not for profit" unincorpororated organisation (community group) . We are in reality just Heather and Paul, who together with a small group of dedicated local volunteers regularly work through our dementia cafes to help others who find themselves unexpectedly thrust into the world of unpaid dementia carer, having to deal with all of the life-changing events that occur when someone you love begins to live with dementia. We also campaign and lobby on  behalf of the needs and legal rights of carers, whilst working alongside charities, organisations and health care professionals. 

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Why do we do this?  -  Both of us have lost our respective husband and wife to dementia and discovered along the way that the support out there for us as carers, was at the best, minimal and at the worst, non-existent. We were never given training, or provided with additional levels of patience, energy, understanding, empathy or resilience. Having been handed a diagnosis of dementia by a medical professional, it seemed to us that "Dementia" was an illness that existed outside of the usual NHS resource - Our family and friends struggled to understand, the support from our GP was well meant, but very limited and we really felt cast adrift to have to fend for ourselves.

 

Our partners were confused and scared of the future - and for us as carers It was a frightening experience too - one that we now know other people are having to deal with - so if we can help those people by sharing our experience of caring for our loved one - then that is why we do this.

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We are a small voluntary group existing financially via fundraising events, small grants and support from local community organisations as well as the goodwill of people who donate a small amount to help us do what we do.

We work alongside the medical professionals and charities locally to offer support that we believe is necessary.

To be able to talk to someone who really understands - because they have actually experienced all of the emotions and difficulties that you are probably personally facing right now as a carer for your loved one, is a resource that we both desperately needed at the time, but sadly never had. - If we can make a small difference by sharing our own experience -

- then this is why we do this.

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We have found that one of the most effective ways to achieve this is through the gateway of a dementia friendly cafe environment, providing respite and peer support. - So we run five cafes locally, with four of these being weekly ( this is important for continuity ) in Wellesbourne, Tysoe, Shipston-on-Stour, Moreton-in-Marsh and Compton Verney. Through these cafes and hopefully through the other information available on this website,

(which is being constantly updated), we can help you.

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Our own personal experience is being constantly added to through our regular interaction with a large number of carers and health care professionals - meaning that we are able to pass this knowledge on. (Every day is a school day!)

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We consider ourselves very fortunate people, we have both loved other partners for a greater part of our life and then discovered that we had so much in common we actually fell in love again - now we are married.

This life experience, although painfully difficult at times, has now brought us together -

- and together we really make quite a formidable team !

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                                                                      Thank you so much for visiting our website...

                                                                If you require more information please contact us.

                                      If you would like to volunteer to help at one of our cafes, please call us for a chat.

               If you feel that you can help with a small donation please click on the button on the home page of this site.

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                                                                                     Heather and Paul 😊😊

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