On Saturday September 21st 2019 the Crewe Dementia Steering Group had organised an awareness and fund-raising event at Crewe Town Centre supported by the Town Council, Bentley Motors, Cheshire Dance and the Soroptomists. This event was part of the Dementia Steering Group’s on-going work to make Crewe a Dementia Friendly Town. The Steering Group members present provided information on the services and helpful contacts available in the area for people living with Dementia and their carers.
Over the last three years the Crewe Dementia Steering Group consisting of volunteers representing local businesses (Bentley Motors, Coop, Natwest etc), various care providers, the police and councils, the Lyceum, charities (Dementia UK, Alzheimer Society, Dementia Friends UK, MCHC) and third sector organisations working on life improvement technology for people living with Dementia, has organised a variety of events from a Dementia Summit at Bentley’s Legends over Valentine’s Tea Dance, Christmas afternoons, Information events, Dementia Friends sessions and worked closely with Cambridge University on a study project regarding Dementia.
This World Alzheimer’s Day the “Live Well Dance ladies” under the guidance of Shirley Brocklehurst from Cheshire Dance performed and were joined by the Mayor of Crewe Benn Minshall; they all deserved their applause and certainly helped to attract attention to the information stalls. Bentley Motors had provided lovely raffle prizes, the Mayor drew the winning tickets at the close of the event. All money donated went to the Mid Cheshire Hospital Charity Dementia appeal “Everybody knows Somebody”. Favoured by the last summer sunshine the volunteers managed to pass on valuable information to the interested public and showcase the brilliant Memory Boxes provided by Coop Funeralcare.
Going forward the Crewe Dementia Steering Group chaired by Daniela von der Fecht who is also the representative for Bentley Motors in the Dementia Action Alliance will link with the local DEEP group (=Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project) to do even more focused work in maintaining the town’s status as Working towards Dementia friendly Crewe. Furthermore the cooperation will continue with “Safe and Found Online” under the leadership of John Henderson who will launch their new product in Crewe together with the local police at the beginning of 2020 and with Peter Speight from Smartgrid Technology Ltd. The group’s motto is “together we are stronger and will fight Dementia”. Currently there are around 6000 people in Cheshire East registered as living with Dementia – the group’s aim is to make the lives of these people and their carers better through raising awareness, removing the still existing stigma, employing modern technology and continuing to give their love, time, understanding and empathy.
A heartfelt Thank You goes to all who made the event possible and joined on the day, particularly the Steering Group members Ceri Garratt (Dementia UK), Stuart Mackay (Coop), Carole Salmon (MCHC).
For further information and/or if you want to get involved in the work of the Crewe Dementia Steering Group, please feel free to contact Daniela von der Fecht on Daniela.VonDerFecht@bentley.co.uk or on 01270535340. <<
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