By Andy Hirst
A new dementia-friendly café has opened in Huddersfield … and it’s free.
The pop-up café will run at The Zone on St Andrew’s Road near the John Smith’s Stadium every Monday from 1.30pm to 3pm and the first one is this Monday (May 16) to mark the start of Dementia Action Week.
It’s packed full of memorabilia to help get individuals with dementia talking and it also means their carers can make new friends and have a good old chinwag too. Free tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided.
The Zone, home of Huddersfield Giants Community Trust (HGCT), is registered as a safe place and a dementia-friendly venue.
The café is co-ordinated by HGCT dementia co-ordinator Sally Robshaw who has contacted several well-known Huddersfield companies for memorabilia and they have responded with photos and exhibits that will trigger happy memories for people with dementia.
The companies involved include David Brown’s, Shaws pickles, Standard Fireworks, Huddersfield Giants, Thornton and Ross pharmaceutical manufacturers in Linthwaite, Syngenta on Leeds Road and Tetley Tea which was started in Huddersfield by brothers Joseph and Edward Tetley almost 200 years ago.
The café, called Tea, Talk and The Town, has been sponsored by Brighouse-based emergency vehicle manufacturer the Venari Group which is now converting old army ambulances into frontline ambulances for Ukraine.
Sally said: “People are welcome to just turn up as we know how important it is for carers as well as people with dementia to get out and socialise. The café aims to trigger memories, get people to talk and make new friends. It’s all about being inclusive.”
HGCT chief executive Lisa Darwin added: “The great thing about the café is that it’s really as much for the carers too who can lead such isolated lives caring for their loved ones with dementia.
READ MORE: Kirklees Council has a number of events throughout Dementia Action Week
“We hope it’s a place where they will meet new friends and will become a highlight of their week. People have been so isolated over the last two years due to the pandemic and there are very few places people with dementia can go and feel both comfortable and safe.”
Huddersfield Giants Community Trust is the official charity of the Giants. With The Zone they have the ability to bring people together, improve community cohesion, improve fitness and well-being and raise the hopes and aspirations of the people of Kirklees and beyond.
The cafe is keen to hear from businesses or people who may be able to provide photos and memorabilia. Anyone who can help should email Sally at sally@hgct.co.uk
* Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging and copywriting. Copyright Andy Hirst.
