East Suffolk Service For Dementia Sufferers And Carers

Advice about vital services for those with dementia and their carers, is being offered to people in Beccles, Halesworth, Bungay and surrounding villages.

Advice about vital services for those with dementia and their carers, is being offered to people in Beccles, Halesworth, Bungay and surrounding villages.

The events are part of a wider dementia roadshow in the county - with a chance to meet groups such as Citizens Advice and Suffolk Family Carers.

The first event takes place Tuesday at Beccles Library, with Halesworth and Bungay dates later this month. Three events are taking place in East Suffolk, as part of a wider dementia roadshow in Suffolk. The events provide an opportunity to meet organisations such as Citizens Advice, Suffolk County Council and Suffolk Family Carers, as well as local groups such as the Pear Tree Fund in Halesworth, Forget Me Nots in Beccles, Bungay Community Support, Back in the Groove CIC and Sprake and Kingsley in Bungay. Organised by East Suffolk Council’s Communities Team and Suffolk County Council, the following events are taking place: Tuesday 13 June (3pm-5pm) – Beccles Library, Blyburgate, Beccles, NR34 9TB Tuesday 27 June (2pm - 4pm) - Bungay Community Centre, Old Grammar Lane, Bungay, NR35 1PU Thursday 29 June (2pm-4pm) - Pear Tree Centre, Bungay Rd, Halesworth, IP19 8SG. Cllr Katie Graham, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for Communities, Leisure and Tourism said: “Beccles, Bungay and Halesworth residents living with dementia, and their carers, have a wide range of help and services available to them and these events are an ideal way to find out more about accessing the appropriate support for their needs.” Cllr Beccy Hopfensperger, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for Adult Social Care said: “Dementia is a truly devastating condition that robs families of loved ones and isolates people within their own lives.  I hope that these roadshows will help people across the county start a conversation with us, helping them give us their experiences of living with dementia. The insights we gain from these conversations will help deliver the Suffolk Dementia Strategy’s aim to ensure that anyone with dementia and those that support them get the right support, in a timely manner in the right place.” There is parking near to each of the venues and there is no need to pre-book a place. Free refreshments will be available. The Bungay event is part of work which local stakeholders are currently undertaking around making the town a dementia friendly community. The Bungay Dementia Project has been created by East Suffolk Council, working with Suffolk Family Carers, Connected Communities, Bungay Community Support, Bungay Town Council and Back in the Groove CIC. Project partners are exploring the idea of training for local businesses and community groups to raise dementia awareness, with other areas of work determined through further public engagement. For more information, please email sam.kenward@eastsuffolk.gov.uk .