West Leeds community social centre Bramley Lawn is to receive a grant of more than £10,000 from the Morrisons Foundation to support community activities.
The funding will enable many more people, including people with dementia, to take part in a range of fun, healthy and creative activities, by supporting activities at Bramley Lawn and by making the community venue more accessible.
The grant will
- allow Bramley Lawn to put up black out blinds for community film screenings;
- integrate a hearing loop in the building (so that people who are deaf and hard of hearing can take part fully in activities);
- buy 12 ukuleles and push button chord changers (enabling people who have trouble moving their fingers to play);
- produce large format printed music, to enable people with sight problems to take part, and buy a large range of musical films for people with dementia and others using the building to sing along to;
- The grant will support the delivery of 50 weekly ukulele classes for beginners and Zumba Gold classes which anyone is welcome to attend;
- and help with the costs of a door-to-door transport service people and their families can trust, enabling people with dementia to get a change of scene during the week by attending Remember Thursdays activities.
Remember Thursdays is a regular day of activities to support anyone in the community affected by dementia. Remember Thursdays includes Singalong movies, on every third Thursday of the month. The Morrisons grant will improve the experience for people attending and mean that people who need transport will be able to get there and take part.
Fran Graham, Manager of Bramley Lawn, said:
“We’re absolutely delighted about this grant and very grateful to Morrisons Foundation. The support will make a huge difference, bringing creativity, fun and happy memories to more people in West Leeds. Come and get involved.”
Bramley Lawn ran a pilot ukulele class for six months, which proved very popular. Its future is now secure, and the class will now be weekly, for at least a year. The Ukelele Class ideal for beginners will be on Tuesdays 12-1pm with tutor Jessica Bowie. The Zumba Gold class is every Wednesday at 2pm. All welcome.
If you or someone you know would like to know more about any activities at Bramley Lawn, please contact Fran Graham on 0113 236 1644 or by email franbramleyea@gmail.com, or visit Bramley Lawn online.
Bramley Lawn, formerly a Leeds City Council day centre, was out of use for several years, before being taken on by Bramley Elderly Action in 2014.
It is now a thriving social centre for the community which hosts regular activities throughout the week, as well as being available for hire for events, parties and meetings. Through Bramley Lawn, and other initiatives, BEA aims to help make a better, more inclusive community for everybody.
Bramley Lawn is managed by Bramley Elderly Action, which supports older people living in Bramley, Swinnow and parts of Stanningley to remain healthy, independent and involved in their community.