£82k cash boost for key dementiasupport service

The funding has been awarded to the advocacy charity Ceartas to develop their services that provide peer support for people with dementia in East Dunbartonshire.

They will also use the money to expand the programme through their existing ‘de Café’ model.

De Cafés are aimed at people worried about, or living with, dementia as well as carers and former carers.

They offer information and advice, and also provide space for a tailored peer support service for people with dementia who may find it hard to reach out - where someone who has a shared lived experience of dementia can connect with and listen to them.

De Café members will also be involved in telling professionals and others in the community about dementia, addressing head on some of the stigma still associated with dementia and demonstrating that people with dementia can be active contributors.

The cash will be used for cafés in Milngavie and Bearsden, Bishopbriggs and Kirkintilloch.

Funding has come from the Life Changes Trust, an independent charity set up with a Big Lottery Fund endowment of £50 million to improve the lives of people affected by dementia and care experienced young people.

The Trust will be investing a total of £1.2 million in both befriending and peer support initiatives over five years.

Befriending and peer support are key services which people with dementia and carers are said to most value because of the positive impact they have on the person with dementia and/or their carer.