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A volunteer morning coffee group that supports people and families affected by dementia has secured a £7,800 National Lottery grant.

The group meets every Monday, except Bank Holidays, from 10 to 12 noon in White Rose Resource Centre, New Tredegar.

It provides a time and space for people living with dementia and their carers to meet over refreshments for informal support and conversation.

The group also hosts visiting speakers, music, craft, games, day trips and other memory and cognitive stimulation activities that benefit those with early stage dementia.

Each weekly session is run by a small number of volunteers, who make up the group’s committee.
These are treasurer Carol Andrews, councillor for Gilfach and the council’s dementia champion, her daughter Megan is secretary and the chair is Wendy Short.

The group began as the Alzheimer’s Society Peer Support Group based at The Winding House in New Tredegar around 2016.

Megan began volunteering with the group during sixth form as part of her Welsh Baccalaureate course, because her grandfather had been diagnosed with dementia.

Wendy Short began as a volunteer driver for the group.

The group continued through the pandemic, but the Alzheimer’s Society were changing direction and could no longer support the group.

Two of the members decided they would run the group themselves and become the New Tredegar Dementia Support Group in September 2020 and the group was launched by Carol, who was then the county borough mayor.

Unfortunately, due to ill health, the group was on the verge of folding when Wendy contacted Carol asking for help for the group.

As dementia champion and a relative of someone living with dementia, Carol realised how important this group was to existing members. With the support of Caerphilly Cares and GAVO, Wendy, Megan and Carol, set up the White Rose Dementia Coffee Morning as a constituted group, in September 2022.

Carol, as treasurer, applied for Lottery Funding earlier this year and was delighted to find they had been successful. The funding will be spent on room hire and funding day trips including transport and tickets.

Cognitive stimulation does not cure or reverse dementia but for many people with mild or moderate dementia, it could make a difference, not just in cognitive tests but in social interaction, mood, wellbeing and day-to-day function.

The group works in partnership with Upper Rhymney Valley Dementia Friendly Community, New Tredegar Community Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council, Integrated Wellbeing Network, GAVO and the Greater Gwent Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Partnership Dementia Friendly Communities.

White Rose Dementia Coffee Morning welcomes new members and their relatives and anyone who would like to volunteer with them.

The group welcomed Rhymney MS Dawn Bowden on Monday July 29, who presented them with their funding cheque and joined them and other guests for a small celebration.