St Richard’s focus on helping people living with dementia started in January 2018 when the first Dementia Friendly Café opened. The café continues to meet twice a month, on the first Saturday and third Tuesday, for two hours, from 2pm to 4pm. Everyone is welcome, especially anyone suffering from memory loss, their families, and friends, and those who care for them, from Haywards Heath and the surrounding areas. Each session includes live entertainment, which is always well received, with guests singing along and sometimes dancing. Tea, coffee, and cake are provided throughout the sessions by a team of volunteers from St Richard’s and the local community.
Local agencies and doctors’ surgeries continue to refer families to the cafés, and several donations and grants have been received which have paid for entertainers to join the sessions.
The informal cafés, held in St Richards Hall, provide a safe place for people with dementia and their carers to come and chat whilst enjoying refreshments, live entertainment, and the company of others. There is no need to book, just turn up on the day.
The café on the first Saturday in December always includes a Dementia Friendly Carol Service, held in the church, where guests are joined by Scaynes Hill Community Choir and are encouraged to sing carols and shake and rattle musical instruments.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer is invited to get in touch. https://www.strichards.co.uk/dementia-friendly-cafes.html