We are delighted to share our latest funding news which means that Dementia Friendly Worthing can continue to operate. Successful funding applications to the National Lottery Community Fund and Sussex Community Foundation Trust will enable new initiatives to run supporting local people with dementia and their carers and our local coordinator can be funded until December 2020.
£17,586 of this funding is from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund and has been made available thanks to the Government. £4,987.50 is from the NET CoronaVirus Fund from the Sussex Community Foundation Trust.
The last three months has meant that people with dementia and their carers have been extremely isolated in their homes. Carers particularly have been deprived of respite opportunities as well as being fearful about the safety and the wellbeing of the person with dementia. These last few months have been trying for the brightest and fittest of people but trying to explain to someone with dementia that they can’t go out or what was happening locally and, on the news, has been especially difficult.
Dementia Friendly Worthing has had to re-think their strategies as those people we seek to reach, and support are less accessible than they once were.
This funding has meant we can bring information sessions, falls prevention advice, singing and group therapies online and talk people through the use of Zoom as well as loan tablets to those unable to afford them. We want to help this particular group of carers become part of our Dementia Friendly Worthing online community and encourage them to try new things.
We still anticipate getting out in the community in time with dementia cafes, but in the short term, we will be driving awareness in different through social media channels, and hope that those who are more awkward to reach might be encouraged by a family member or a neighbour to get in touch on 07903 720208
In the next month, we have Dementia Friends Sessions, Falls Prevention and Wellbeing, Legal and Financial matters, singing as well as Doodling with Dementia therapies.