A DEMENTIA support service is hoping for bags of help from a supermarket to create a new ‘reminiscence sanctuary’ garden at its headquarters.
Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support has applied for a grant from Tesco’s community funding pot, cash generated from revenue from its plastic carrier bag sales.
BIADS, which supports more than 200 families in the Barnsley district, has been chosen as one of the charities vying for the financial boost, which is voted for by customers. The charity with the most votes receives £4,000, with the second getting £2,000 and third placed receiving £1,000.
BIADS wants to use the money for a reminiscence sanctuary, a creative garden area kitted out to benefit the person with dementia, carers and their families each week.
Michelle Clarke Stables, from BIADS, said members dream of accessing an outside space that would enrich their time at the support centre, off Dodworth Road, and allow them the chance to work outside in the warmer months.
She said it would make a huge positive impact on service users’ time at the centre and overall wellbeing beyond the support service.
“At BIADS we have a vision for our little ‘sanctuary’ in the new creative garden,” said Michelle. “We have recently had a 1979 caravan donated for a reminiscence area.
“We would like to restore the caravan for reminiscence work in the garden, using the space for weekly creative activities that include our craft projects, painting activities and singing sessions.
“In addition we would ask local artists and musicians to collaborate with the project asking them to write, design and make pieces that would be later be displayed on the tree in the garden.
“The caravan would be our main focal point and our sanctuary at the heart of our space.”
She said the pieces created with the members would vary from poems to hanging sculptures.
“To make the space ‘our sanctuary’, we would like to buy suitable seating underneath the trees and next to the caravan with access for people with dementia in wheelchairs to sit comfortably at picnic tables,” Michelle said.
“We would also like to provide sun umbrellas and warm blankets for chillier weather.”
Voting will take place from Thursday, March 1 to Monday, April 30 at Tesco Express on Huddersfield Road, Barnsley, and at the Hoyland store on Market Street.
