Community Foundation Launches Dementia Support Programme

The collaborative programme, which will launch in October 2016, follows on from Spectrum being shortlisted for the Premiership Rugby Parliamentary BREAKTHRU Award in June.

From September 2016, training and preparation to deliver sessions - based around local and general sporting memories – will begin.

These will be complimented by short sessions of light physical activity.

Spectrum programme manager, Kris Tavender said: “With over 850,000 people in the UK living with dementia, it is such a great opportunity to be able to link with Sporting Memories and the Bristol Alliance to support these individuals, which has been greatly enabled by funding from Premiership Rugby, Sport Relief and the Bristol Sport Foundation.”

In partnership with the Sporting Memories Network, Sporting Memories Foundation and the Bristol Dementia Action Alliance, the Foundation is developing community provision for those across Bristol living with dementia.

Chairman of the Bristol Dementia Action Alliance, Tony Hall applauded the partnership – he said: “Our aim is not to make Bristol a dementia friendly city, but to make Bristol THE dementia friendly city.”

 Toby Roberts, local programme coordinator for Sporting Memories said: “For some participants who may be isolated or have dementia reminiscence can improve wellbeing, and sport is a topic lots of people can relate to and share stories.

“The Sporting Memories Network provide regular sessions for older sports fans to reminisce about sport in a group, and have recently been awarded funding to expand our work in Bristol and the South West and are developing a range of activities across the city in partnership with Bristol Rugby Community Foundation.”

For further information, contact Kris Tavender on ktavender@bristolrugby.co.uk