This must be one of the friendliest places in Huddersfield.
Longwood Village Group Memory Café hosts a full cooked two-course meal along with fun and games for people with Alzheimer’s or dementia and their carers every week.
It was set up almost two years ago by Audrey Binns and Sue Shepherd at Longwood Mechanics Hall but has recently been renamed and can take up to 30 people each session.
People from across Kirklees attend and it currently has members from Golcar, Kirkburton and Mirfield.
Audrey said: “It’s all about stimulating people and inspiring memories so the music we play is usually from the late 1950s and the 1960s. It’s amazing they join in the singing and know every word of each song.
“We play bingo every session and most numbers inspire a song so when we get to number 64 they all start singing ‘When I’m 64’ by the Beatles. It’s hilarious and we often roll about laughing.
“You can hear the buzz as soon as you get near the room. It’s lovely.”
The tables are strewn with jigsaws, old books, magazines and jewellery dating back 50 or so years. It even has interactive pet electronic cats which move and miaow if stroked.
The food is traditional English – usually meat, two veg and roast potatoes – with a fruit crumble to follow.
“It’s food they remember from way back when so it all helps in the memory process,” said Audrey.
There is no charge for the meal but people are asked to donate if they can to help with the costs of running the group which meets every Wednesday from 11am to 2pm.
Longwood Village Group Memory Café has 10 volunteers and some of them are qualified mental health nurses or lecturers.
Audrey added: “Our aim is to make the time people spend with us here as happy, relaxing and fulfilling as we can.”
Anyone wanting to join should phone Audrey on 07403 035374.
The club has an official launch date on Wednesday, November 22, when people can go to have a look round and there will also be advice stalls on Alzheimer’s and dementia. People can just turn up between 11am and 2pm and the volunteers will be serving hot soup and crusty rolls along with tea and coffee.
Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting.
