Blean Dementia Lunch Club volunteers
Blean Dementia Awareness monthly lunch club is held in Blean Village Hall and started in April 2014; The hall plays a major part in village life as a fit for purpose 21st Century community centre providing essential services based on local needs. The village hall site is centrally located and easily accessible by bus, car or pedestrians. It is used by 21 regular user groups plus private hires that include the Dementia Awareness lunch club.
“The idea of the lunch club was proposed by 3 local residents who, like me, had personal “experience” of the impact of living with dementia within their professional, personal and family lives. A member of a group (who meet in the hall weekly) also expressed interest in helping with the lunch club. The lunch club is collaboratively organised, inclusive to all, and run by a small group of community volunteers/founder members with a member of the user group”
Guests to the club are able to take time out to sit down and chat with a simple message: “come to lunch” monthly. Our aim and objective is to offer 2 hours in a relaxed, friendly, welcoming environment and companionship on a Saturday from 12 – 2pm (when other formal services aren’t available).. The service is targeted at local people who understand both the nature and impact of living with dementia.