Ashford Place, a registered charity based in Cricklewood London, runs an Irish Dementia Project, offering
1:1 casework supporting the individual with a range of medical, social and welfare issues
support to family/carers
Information sessions on a range of topics including scams, benefits, power of attorney, personal safety etc
regular De-Caf (dementia café) drop-in sessions (plus signposting to 16 dementia Cafes in Brent)
Health and Wellbeing Workshops
Peer Support Training
We asked Danny Maher, CEO of Ashford Place, to tell us more.
Q: Why is it important to Ashford Place to have an Irish Dementia Project?
A: Simply because service provision for Irish people living with dementia doesn’t exist and certainly culturally sensitive provision is completely absent so having a project for our Irish clients is great and so therapeutic.
We do have people from other cultures as well of course which only enhances the quality and fun in the project. www.cad-brent.org.uk which was created with the support of Cuimhne over the last ten years and contracts Ashford Place to provide community support services.
The partnership quickly recognised the need for culturally sensitive services and hence our Irish dementia project.
Q: How are people living with dementia and family carers involved in the designing of project activities?
A: Co-production is again a fashionable word particularly in the statutory sector. We have a very simple approach to enabling people living with dementia – PLWD – and their unpaid carers to develop and evolve our dementia services.
Clearly, they are experts by experience and with our own expertise at delivering support we can together create something that is meaningful, makes sense to our clients and helps to increase health and wellbeing.
Q: De-caf (Dementia Cafe) has been running for nearly 10 years now! What makes it so popular? Has it changed much over the years?
A: Probably because our 17 dementia cafes are spread equally across the borough of Brent so no client lives too far away from one which clearly makes it more convenient to attend.
In parallel of course we have a team of IAG – Information, advice and guidance – staff who provide much needed one to one advocacy and person-centred support on various issues such as benefits, adult social care, access to NHS services, legal support, personal safety etc.
It is the offer of both strands that our clients find most helpful.
Q: How can people volunteer support?
A: In any way they want to really. There is always a need for someone to make the tea, to welcome clients, have a chat, do some limited personal care, support the IAG staff, raise some funds.
We have a call-out for volunteers in our newsletters and we are well connected to our local residents’ associations and community organisations which we use to advertise our vacancies. Our clients are also a good source as they occasionally know friends or neighbours who like to volunteer.
Q: What material donations would you welcome?
A: Mostly arts and crafts materials and board games.
Q: What top tips would you give to other groups in the Irish in Britain network thinking about setting up a Dementia Support Project?
A: Create a sound team of volunteers and/or staff and some people from the dementia community to start planning a dementia project
Identify pots of funding from your local Council to help with the basics
Identify a free community or Faith space that will be happy to host your project
Tell your contacts in NHS and Councils about your project and invite referrals
Use these contacts to be part of the offer in your project e.g. invite mental health, adult social care, Occupational therapy officers and more to be part of the service offer.
Find a sponsor who will support the development of your project.
Q: Ashford Place works collaboratively and creatively with different community organisations, charities and mainstream organisations, for instance hosting "Out of The Frame" art workshops with the Wallace Collection. What are the challenges and the joys of collaborative work?
A: There aren’t any challenges as long as partnerships are well planned, are well resourced ie volunteers or staff or both and that all involved are clear about the activity and everyone knows their role.
We have great fun with e.g. Royal Philharmonic orchestra, Wallace Collection, Museum of Brands etc and the difference they make to the wellbeing and confidence of our clients is amazing, often greater than your traditional statutory support service.
Q St Patrick’s Day is coming up - are there any special steps the Ashford Place team may take to enable people living with dementia and family carers to be involved and included in celebrations?
A: Yes, we always look forward to these big days. Already our project is planning celebratory events, and we will make sure there is plenty of good music, song and dance, a good feed and there is sufficient transport and volunteers to ensure everyone has a good time.
Ashford Place details
Tel: 020 8208 8590 60 Ashford Rd | Opening hours Mondays & Wednesdays (9.30am – 5pm) | |