Lincolnshire dementia groups to share over £200k in support funds

More than 2,200 people and 16 groups in Lincolnshire are set to benefit from a share of the £212,000 Dementia Support Fund.

The fund, set up by the county’s four Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs), and Lincolnshire County Council, aims to support a wide range of activities that help people with dementia.

It is currently managed by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT), the provider of the region’s mental health and social care services.

This is the second pot of Dementia Support Fund money to be handed out this year.

A first wave of funding earlier in the year gave money to 10 organisations to provide 13 different schemes, ranging from a project that is working to establish dementia friendly communities across Lincolnshire, to social and community activity groups.

The new projects are all part of the Dementia Support Network and will begin work in January to help people stay active, join in social events, and enjoy participating in art, cooking and other pastimes.

One of the groups that received a slice of money was Dementia Support South Lincs, which runs the twice monthly Square Hole Club, an engaging activity group for people with early onset dementia or those in the early stages of the illness.

Memory Health Care Worker, Kate Marshall, who helps run the group, said: “We run themed events and recently featured one on the railways. One of our members used to work on the railways so we had pictures through the ages and a CD playing with train sounds.

“The club runs from 10am to 4pm and during that time it gives the carers a bit of respite, which is very important.

“We also go out for a pub lunch once a month with all the members and their carers.”

Associate Director of Community Partnerships at LPFT, Paul Jackman, said: “Lincolnshire already has a nationally recognised network for providing help and support to people who have experience of mental health problems. We have learned from this experience to extend the approach to dementia.

“We are keen to hear about people’s ideas so that we develop new and imaginative activities for people to try, as well as continue to support the things that people already value.”