A dementia cafe in Renfrew has celebrated after being awarded thousands of pounds in National Lottery funding, which it says will make a “huge difference” going forward.
The Forget Me Not Cafe has been running on a weekly basis in the Renfrew North Parish Church since 2015, offering entertainment and friendly support to people living with dementia, as well as their friends, family and carers.
The awarding of £2800 in funding was announced and celebrated at the cafe’s Wednesday afternoon session on July 17, with an oversized cheque and National Lottery branded cake, as well as a performance from the Govan Allsorts Choir. Labour councillor Jamie McGuire was also in attendance.
Irene Barr, a retired nurse who co-runs the cafe, said the funding was a big deal for the entirely volunteer-led operation.
“We run completely on donations,” Irene said. “We have a donation box - on a good week, we’ll get £30. We don’t charge anyone for coming. And we run 50 weeks of the year, which is quite unusual for clubs like this.”
Irene said that the funding would help pay for musicians to perform at the weekly get together.
“It’s well researched that music helps people with dementia,” she said, “and the people who come love singing and hearing music. So we have a lot of musical performances; singers, choirs, ukulele bands - you name it, we’ve had it.
“But when we get a professional singer, that costs about £100 for two hours. So that’s costing us quite a lot of money - which is why we applied for the lottery funding, which will make a huge difference.”
Irene says the cafe offers the opportunity for people to unwind, but also to form bonds with other people going through similar circumstances.
“It’s two hours where they don’t need to think about anything else but enjoying themselves,” she said. “It’s a nice, friendly place where they can relax. People are accepted the way they are.
“Initially, we thought we’d look after the people with dementia and let their carers have two hours off. But that never happened, because the families get care and support that they’re not getting elsewhere.
“They all give one another tips - but they also form friendships. It makes such a huge difference to their lives.”
Irene encourages anyone to pop down to the cafe, which is free of charge.
“We have people from all over Renfrewshire - Erskine, Paisley, Renfrew” she said. “We don’t care where people are coming from. You don’t need to make an appointment, you just rock up at the door, and you’re welcomed in.
“Most people now know someone that has dementia. It’s such a big disease now. It affects everyone. But it’s nothing to be frightened of - it’s just part and parcel of daily life.”
The Forget Me Not Cafe runs between 2-4pm every week at the Renfrew North Parish Church. More information can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/forgetmenotcafe
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