Local home care company, Home Instead Ipswich, Felixstowe and Woodbridge, is pleased to announce that they have entered into a co-operative agreement with Felixstowe Dementia Action Alliance (FXDAA) to facilitate growth and a sustainable future for the Felixstowe Memory Lane Dementia Support Group. 

The two organisations will be working together to run its flagship Memory Lane Café; a friendly, free and fun group that meets every alternate Friday at the Salvation Army Hall, Felixstowe, IP11 7EL, to support those living with dementia and their carers. 

Thanks to local funding from East Suffolk Council Restart grant the Memory Lane opened again in Felixstowe on the 4th February with a new lease of life.

Memory Lane is well attended by the community in Felixstowe and has over the years has received many donations from local businesses and individuals. In addition to a new working partnership the FXDAA and Home Instead will facilitate further positive changes with a provision of a dementia trained co-ordinator funded by East Suffolk Council Boost Grant.

In recent months, the group has been led by Sally Gallant and several volunteers from the local community, who kindly stepped in to run the Café in order to keep it going. The Café is a lifeline and attendees would like to thank all the volunteers for their efforts.   

Memory Lane is now seeking to establish a steering group to drive things forward. Sally Gallant has a wealth of experience supporting Memory Lane and is delighted to take on the role of Acting Chair. Sally said: “Supporting people living with dementia to be part of our community and not apart from it, is both vital and rewarding. Ideal candidates to join me on the steering group would be local community, health or business representatives, carers or people living with dementia”. 

Helen Greengrass, the current chair of the Felixstowe Dementia Action Alliance, said: “We are really pleased to be collaborating with Home Instead. Their professional experience with supporting people living with dementia in our community will be invaluable to the group.  Home Instead will also provide access to local information, signposting to resources and information on local care providers that will help those attending the group.”  

Wendy Chard, community engagement officer and dementia champion for Home Instead, said: “I am really looking forward to working with local families to support their loved ones.  At Home Instead, we understand how challenging some days can be and we want to help people to live well with dementia. Our aim is to be there to support the members of the group and to do this over a cup of tea and cake, while having some fun!  We are very excited to be involved in this collaboration.”

Felixstowe Dementia Action Alliance and Home Instead aspire to open a second group for the local community and are actively seeking new members and volunteers in the area. 

Local home care company, Home Instead Ipswich, Felixstowe and Woodbridge, is pleased to announce that they have entered into a co-operative agreement with Felixstowe Dementia Action Alliance (FXDAA) to facilitate growth and a sustainable future for the Felixstowe Memory Lane Dementia Support Group. 

The two organisations will be working together to run its flagship Memory Lane Café; a friendly, free and fun group that meets every alternate Friday at the Salvation Army Hall, Felixstowe, IP11 7EL, to support those living with dementia and their carers. 

Thanks to local funding from East Suffolk Council Restart grant the Memory Lane opened again in Felixstowe on the 4th February with a new lease of life.

Memory Lane is well attended by the community in Felixstowe and has over the years has received many donations from local businesses and individuals. In addition to a new working partnership the FXDAA and Home Instead will facilitate further positive changes with a provision of a dementia trained co-ordinator funded by East Suffolk Council Boost Grant.

In recent months, the group has been led by Sally Gallant and several volunteers from the local community, who kindly stepped in to run the Café in order to keep it going. The Café is a lifeline and attendees would like to thank all the volunteers for their efforts.   

Memory Lane is now seeking to establish a steering group to drive things forward. Sally Gallant has a wealth of experience supporting Memory Lane and is delighted to take on the role of Acting Chair. Sally said: “Supporting people living with dementia to be part of our community and not apart from it, is both vital and rewarding. Ideal candidates to join me on the steering group would be local community, health or business representatives, carers or people living with dementia”. 

Helen Greengrass, the current chair of the Felixstowe Dementia Action Alliance, said: “We are really pleased to be collaborating with Home Instead. Their professional experience with supporting people living with dementia in our community will be invaluable to the group.  Home Instead will also provide access to local information, signposting to resources and information on local care providers that will help those attending the group.”  

Wendy Chard, community engagement officer and dementia champion for Home Instead, said: “I am really looking forward to working with local families to support their loved ones.  At Home Instead, we understand how challenging some days can be and we want to help people to live well with dementia. Our aim is to be there to support the members of the group and to do this over a cup of tea and cake, while having some fun!  We are very excited to be involved in this collaboration.”

Felixstowe Dementia Action Alliance and Home Instead aspire to open a second group for the local community and are actively seeking new members and volunteers in the area. 

To find out more about Felixstowe Memory Lane Support Group and their upcoming plans, please call Wendy from Home Instead on 01473 272301.