Applications Open for new Meeting Centres in Worcestershire

Organisations wanting to open a Meeting Centre in Worcestershire for those living with dementia are being encouraged to make an application for funding.

In January 2020, Worcestershire County Council and the six district councils of Worcestershire announced they would be investing £540,000 to help local communities across the county to set up specialist dementia Meeting Centres across, putting the county at the forefront of this new way of supporting those living with the condition and their families. However, the coronavirus pandemic put the launch of the scheme on hold until now.

Councillor Adrian Hardman, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “It was disappointing that the launch of the Programme had to be delayed but we now looking forward to seeing local communities coming together to bring forward proposals for new Meeting Centres across Worcestershire to help those with dementia to have the best quality of life.”

Meeting Centres were originally developed in the Netherlands and were brought to the UK by the University of Worcester’s Association for Dementia Studies. They provide local community support to people and families directly affected by dementia. At the heart of every Meeting Centre is a social club where people can meet to have fun, talk to others, and get the help and support they need.

Professor Dawn Brooker, Director of the Association for Dementia Studies, said: “Worcestershire is the first local authority in the Country to make provision for this vital community support which we believe could be a real game changer.

“Meeting Centres have been proven to be a great way of supporting those with dementia to have the best quality of life. During the pandemic, communities that had already established Meeting Centres, switched to supporting people and families at home. Most Meeting Centres are now back to meeting together in some form. This funding will enable groups across Worcestershire to do the same.”

Applications can be submitted at any time up to 30 September 2021.  The application form, together with a number of supporting documents can be accessed via the University of Worcester website at www.worc.ac.uk/wmccsp

University of Worcester Fellow, Dorothy Wilson MBE, will chair an independent panel to assess applications.

“I was delighted to be invited to chair the Assessment Panel,” she said. “This role allows me to use my personal interest in dementia and long experience and personal engagement in professional and community-based music and arts to help create and develop sustainable arts engagement for people and situations where otherwise there may be few opportunities. I am looking forward to assessing the first applications at our first Panel meeting on 29th January 2021 for applications received by 31 December 2020.”

If you have any questions about the Programme and the application process please email meetingcentres@worc.ac.uk