Leading health and wellbeing charity, Royal Voluntary Service is offering free support to local people living with dementia, and their carers. The charity runs impactful dementia cafés and groups across Great Britain, including in Birmingham and Solihull, to help those who live with dementia to maintain a healthy, active, social and stimulating lifestyle.
With help from the Covid-19 Support Fund, Royal Voluntary Service has been able to invest in its invaluable dementia support services and is now able to benefit more people than ever before. There are support groups across Birmingham and in Solihull that are opening their doors and inviting new people to join, including Dementia Cafés in Hodge Hill, Newtown, Northfield, Sheldon and Sutton Coldfield; and activity groups in Kings Heath, Kingstanding, Sparkbrook and Solihull.
At these services, which are also supported by Alzheimer’s Society UK, teams of outgoing volunteers help staff to host fun and social gatherings that include a variety of offerings, such as refreshments, guest speakers, gentle exercise, cognitive stimulation therapy, crafts, games, drop-in information sessions and more. As well as providing important practical support, the groups help local people living with dementia to stay active in their community and ultimately boost social connectivity, health and wellbeing.
Loved ones or carers of those living with dementia are also welcome to go along to the cafés to socialise and receive judgement-free advice and support where needed. Helen Ledger, Service Manager for Royal Voluntary Service in Birmingham and Solihull said: “I’m so grateful to the Covid-19 Support Fund, as with their help, Royal Voluntary Service’s dementia teams have just achieved the fantastic milestone of having supported 1,000 people so far.
“I’m eager to grow that number even higher and welcome more people to join our wonderful groups in which are improving the lives of people living with dementia, and their carers, throughout Birmingham and Solihull.” Royal Voluntary Service is one of Britain’s largest volunteering charities with volunteers supporting the NHS, adult social care and thousands of vulnerable people in the community.
The charity delivers the NHS and Care Volunteer Responders programme for NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care, enabled by the GoodSAM app, with volunteers responding to over 2.5 million requests for help to support approximately 200,000 people, and completing over 363,000 shifts at vaccination sites. The charity also works in local communities running home libraries, companionship support, home from hospital services and patient transport.
Its Virtual Village Hall provides online activities and classes to promote wellbeing and keep people active.
