This week’s post introduces another grassroots community charity that has received funding from our foundation.

Wetherby in Support of the Elderly (WiSE) works to alleviate loneliness and isolation for people over 60 in Wetherby, West Yorkshire. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the charity ran a weekly ‘Meet Up Monday Dementia Cafe’ to support people living with dementia and their carers. The pandemic brought a halt to the cafe and, similar to many of the groups we have worked with, it has proven a real challenge to restart activities as restrictions have eased.

The Memory Cafe is designed to provide a safe and supportive environment where people living with dementia can be given support, signposting to local services, and take part in a number of varied and stimulating activities. As well as this, it also provides respite for carers along with advice and help to enable them to continue with their challenging role.

WiSE made a successful application to the foundation in March 2022, and received an award of £5000 to help with the restarting of the memory cafe in Wetherby. Together with funds raised by the charity locally, this funding will enable the Dementia Cafe to run for a year, providing a valuable local resource for people who have endured a high level of isolation and loneliness during the past two years.

The foundation continues to work with WiSE, who are currently recruiting for a person to lead the dementia cafe project, and look forward to seeing the project start up again soon.

As always, this simply would not be possible without the kind support of our donors and supporters. Thank you to all of you.

* All images are used with the kind permission of Wetherby in Support of the Elderly.