Raising funds for dementia support in our community
Since June, the Ambiance Care team has been busy raising funds to support those living with dementia and their carers in our local community.
June 13th marks Cupcake Day – a special event founded by the Alzheimer’s Society to raise vital funds. We always take part in Cupcake Day but this year we wanted to make a difference locally, so, for the last couple of months, we’ve held several cupcake sales to support Poynton Golden Memories – a voluntary group run by carers of those with dementia.
We were touched to receive some wonderful donations of cupcakes from local baking business Nice Buns Bakery, Cake my Day by Suzanne and Barwell Bakes, which were sold at various locations in Stockport, Cheshire and Tameside, including Parkhills Car Centre and the North West Ambulance Service.
The cupcake sales raised a total of over £150, which was our target and the amount needed to purchase 15 small coffee tables for the group.
About Poynton Golden Memories dementia support group
Poynton Golden Memories have met regularly since 2016 as an offshoot of another group in Tytherington. At first, the group met in one of the co-founders’ kitchens but now meets fortnightly at Poynton Civic Hall – a much larger space to accommodate growing numbers of individuals and their carers.
Get-togethers are an opportunity for fun and friendship, usually incorporating music, singing, dancing, light exercise and games or crafts. At 1pm, everyone enjoys a lunch of soup, bread and cake and the fun continues afterwards with bingo and prizes, for a total of four hours.
There are lots of volunteers, which gives carers a brief respite and the chance to chat about their experiences while their loved ones are occupied.
Co-Founder Judy Hatton says: “Poynton Golden Memories is a friendly, supportive group that meets to share the journey of dementia. I was in a caring position myself five years ago and I bless the day I walked through the door of the Tytherington group. I felt so enlightened – the group was a real eye-opener and an opportunity to share support, advice and ideas.
“Many of our members find friendship here – some carers still come once their partners or loved ones have passed away. There’s a real spirit of support and a close bond in our shared experiences.”
Funds in action
The vital service relies on donations and grants to continue providing this valuable support, and we couldn’t have been happier to help with our £150 donation.
The Covid-19 pandemic meant that members of Poynton Golden Memories couldn’t meet in their large group for over a year but finally, on August 11th, everyone was able to get together again.
More than 70 members and volunteers met at Poynton Civic Hall for a celebration party with music from the House Band, a delicious buffet, lots of dancing and activities, exercise and a hearty dose of fun and friendship.
We were honoured to attend the event, where we were able to see the 15 small tables we’d funded in action!
Judy said: “The tables are wonderful – they’re just the right height for coffee and biscuits and so easy to fold up and put out of the way. We’d been hoping to buy some tables when we met the team at Ambiance Care and they kindly offered to fund the purchase with the proceeds from their Cupcake Day sales.”
Ambiance Care Founder Diane commented: “Having been a dementia carer myself, and meeting so many others through my social work and through Ambiance Care, I understand how challenging it can be to care for someone living with dementia.
“The Golden Memories group provides an opportunity to connect with others in the same situation, share experiences and enjoy fun and friendship at the same time. We’re honoured to have been able to help this invaluable community group and look forward to seeing the coffee tables in action again!”