News

TDS is working in partnership with local black led churches, choir leader, Kadria Thomas, and Dawn Edge from the University of Manchester to run this pilot project. Its aim is to reduce social isolation in people living with dementia from the African Caribbean community. We hope that by offering a social singing group, run by a professional singer and choir leader, we might encourage people to overcome feelings of embarrassment or denial about their cognitive difficulties and come and have a good time. We hope that a relative or friend will encourage the person with dementia to attend and that they too will enjoy having fun socialising and singing with others.   We are now meeting each month at HIBISCUS COURT, 16 Sedgeborough Road, Moss Side M16 7HU.  The dates are as follows:  14 May, 11 June, 9 July, 13 August, 17 September, 15 October – and we meet at 3pm

Listen to one of our early songs by clicking on the link above

Sally has recently started running SONAS sessions with staff from the Mental Health Trust. Originating in Dublin, SONAS means ‘wellbeing’ in Irish Gaelic. Held on Wednesday mornings at the Bideford Centre in Baguley, the group offers a range of simple sensory activities – smell, taste, touch, sound and sight – for enjoyment in the moment. Because the group is small, everyone has opportunities to join in fully. Carers have said that it helped them to think how they could be more in the moment and communicate differently with their relative. Get in touch if you would like to try the group.

On a grey and blustery January day the Walk & Talk Group helped out Red Rose Forest and Southway Housing by planting 6 fruit trees in West Didsbury. The trees will form a mini orchard for local residents to enjoy. Several group members, who have been gardeners, were keen to get digging. One of our ladies even helped to pound in the tree stakes! It reminded another lady of the vines and tangerine trees she grew in Cyprus. This opportunity showed what people living with dementia can still do and it left us all feeling really proud that we have contributed to improving the environment.  Thanks to Red Rose Forest and to our staff and volunteers for making it possible.

 

 

Together Dementia Support’s work is progressing well with four established, popular support groups that are making a great difference to people.  We enable people who are living with dementia to get out every week,  meet new friends, pick up hobbies that they had previously pursued or try new activities.  Our Walk & Talk Group is enjoying Alexandra Park and feel it’s their weekly responsibility to feed the ducks!  And the Carers’ Drop-In offers a varied programme, with an Old Age Psychiatrist, Social Worker, Physiotherapist, and dementia researchers all coming to speak.  Our offer of free Tai Chi sessions and subsidised massage treatments have also proved popular.

TDS currently has five directors, one of whom is Sally, who also manages the project.  However, to develop and expand our work we are seeking 2 or 3 more directors who share our passion for providing more community support to people with dementia in Manchester.  Ideally we would welcome a director with experience and skills in either financial management/accountancy, commissioning or fundraising as securing funding to grow our work is a top priority.  If you have some time to spare please get in touch with Sally to talk further.  Your involvement could really make a difference.