Health and Social Care students from Fareham College are helping local people with dementia through the college’s Memory Café.
Every Friday morning from 10.30 – 11.30am, people living with dementia are invited to join students over a cup of tea and a slice of cake to take part in fun and engaging conversations and a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, board games, card games and quizzes. The Memory Café allows students to put their skills into practice in a safe place, offers carers a break and people with dementia the opportunity to laugh, joke, have fun and engage with a variety of people in a wonderfully welcoming environment.
Stephanie Couper, HCE Lecturer and Curriculum Area Lead at Fareham College, who helped setup the Memory Café, said:
“The Memory Café builds bridges between generations, which is lovely to see and it is something we are seeing more and more of recently, where nurseries and care homes are teaming up to provide intergenerational care. There is always a lot of laughter during the sessions here at Fareham College, and a lot of people with dementia are really benefiting from the interaction; remembering old memories and feeling happy and positive.
“We hope the local community will make the most of our Memory Café and we hope to see lots of new faces there soon.”
Local Gosport gentleman, John Jacques, has lived with dementia for the past two years. He recently attended the Memory Café at Fareham College and gave a talk to the students and staff about his craft of wood turning. His wife, Pam Jacques, spoke about John’s experience:
“The Memory Café allowed John to engage and interact with people of a different age, who he usually wouldn’t get the chance to talk with. He completely came out of his shell during the session when talking about his old skills and showing the bowls to the students. He was laughing and seemed so happy. It’s not often we get to see this side of John anymore – the café really helped him.
The Memory Café runs every week, on a Friday morning from 10.30 – 11.30am, term time. The sessions are open and available for people to just turn up and get involved.
To find out more about the Health and Social Care courses available at Fareham College, click here.
