A WOMAN who founded a support group for people with dementia, special needs and the elderly and isolated has been put forward for a Proud of Barnsley award.
Julie Brown is the founder of Butterflies Dementia Support and Activities Group, and gave up her job in a school five years ago to care for her father, who is now 87 and has dementia.
She runs the group almost single-handedly, with the invaluable support of project workers and a co-ordinator.
There are three sessions a week including a lunch club, activities with drama-based group Qdos Creates, and a fortnightly tea dance which can see up to 50 people attend.
Julie, 56, of Wood Walk, Royston, said: "I wanted to create a group where people could get together with their loved ones in a comfortable environment."But it has evolved and we don't just have people with dementia, we have people who are elderly and isolated, people with special needs.
"On the days when we have events, my dad can be sat next to someone who is quite normal and doesn't have dementia and he is able to escape his problems and has a couple of hours of thinking he's a normal person without this illness. This helps improve their moods and their manner and helps them interact with other people and takes away the stigma of what people think happens when you have dementia.
"We have found this is quite an inspirational thing, as no other group integrates with the general public, they are all specialist dementia groups.
"We also reach out to ex-carers who still need the friendship. People want another lease of life and to keep in touch with their friends and somewhere to go. They don't just go away because they have lost their partners."
For the bank holiday, Julie has organised a sing along afternoon, and once a month she runs trips.
The next one is a repeat of a trip to Sheffield canal on a barge which 53 people enjoyed. It was so popular the bus was full which meant some people couldn't go, which is why it is being repeated.
A trip is also planned at the end of September to the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes and in November, the group will attend a dinner and dance and stay overnight in luxury apartments in Lancaster.
Julie added: "Being a carer is a demanding role, but being with Butterflies has helped me cope. We have some very good friends and we have a lot of fun times, which makes up for the sadness. I'm very excited and humbled to be nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award because all I'm doing is making cups of tea and singing and dancing and organising things. But to be nominated is amazing, and is a real achievement for me."
