Worcestershire Dementia Meeting Centres – Information Meeting

Worcestershire Dementia Meeting Centres – Information Meeting
10 February 2020 at University of Worcester Arena

Staff are also welcome to pass this onto any contacts they have in Worcestershire who would be interested in attending this event.

To book a free place please use the online booking system https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/worcestershire-dementia-meeting-centres-information-meeting-registration-88869086831 

For more information to email meetingcentres@worc.ac.uk

Key attendees:
Professor Dawn Brooker: Director – Association for Dementia Studies, University of Worcester
Richard Keble: Assistant Director – Adult Social Care, Worcestershire County Council
Mike Watts: Trustee – Droitwich Spa Meeting Centre

Worcestershire County Council and the six district councils of Worcestershire are investing £540,000 from the County’s 75% Business Rates pilot to help local communities across the county to set up Meeting Centres. This funding can be drawn on to help with the first 3-year running costs for community groups who want to provide Meeting Centres in Worcestershire. Meeting Centres provide local community support to people and families directly affected by dementia. At the heart of every Meeting Centre is a social club where people and family carers can meet to have fun, talk to others, and get the help and support they need to help them adjust to living with the changes dementia brings.

The first Meeting Centre in the UK was set up in Droitwich Spa in September 2015 as part of the European Research Programme (MEETING DEM). This showed that Meeting Centres significantly improve self-esteem, levels of happiness, and a sense of belonging, as well as reducing some of the most distressing symptoms of dementia. They also provide an invaluable source of support for family carers. The University of Worcester’s Association for Dementia Studies, which first brought the Meeting Centres concept to the UK, will lead on this exciting new venture to make Meeting Centres part of the offer for people across Worcestershire. This event is designed to provide a forum for DAA’s, individuals and organisations to find out more about the Worcestershire Meeting Centres Project and how the funding will be allocated.

Timetable
10.30 – 11.00 Registration
11.00 – 11.10 Welcome – Dawn Brooker
11.10 – 11.20 Introduction to the Worcestershire CC Programme – Richard Keble
11.20 – 11.30 The UK Meeting Centres Support Programme – Dawn Brooker
11.30 – 11.50 Case Study – Droitwich Spa Meeting Centre – Mike Watts
11:50 – 12:15 Group discussions
12:15 – 12:45 Feedback/Q&A
12:45 – 13:00 Next steps/timetable – Dawn Brooker / Richard Keble
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch/Networking, when members of the UK Meeting Centres Support team will be available for consultation/questions

If you are not familiar with what a Meeting Centre is Professor Dawn Brooker will also deliver an optional presentation before the main meeting
9.30 – 10.30 What is a Meeting Centre? (Optional) – Dawn Brooker