Community reporter Noelle Williamson continues her series of articles looking at dementia and memory cafes in West Leeds.
For anyone who has memory problems or sometimes finds public spaces confusing, being
out and about can be challenging.
For someone who has been diagnosed with dementia, or is caring for someone with dementia, it can be a daunting prospect. You find yourself trying to anticipate things that you never used to think about, like access, changes of level, and toilets.
The beauty of a memory café, run by people who have relatable experience, is that
someone else has done the anticipating.
There are several memory cafés in West Leeds, out of dozens across the city.
Although centred on Bramley, Burley, Farsley, Horsforth and Pudsey, they are all on, or very
close to, bus routes from Armley, Burley, Farnley, Kirkstall or Wortley.
If you belong to a South Asian community, there is also Hamari Yaadain in Harehills, a memory café in person and online for speakers of Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu and other regional languages. bmedementia@touchstonesupport.org.uk 0113 219 2727.
There are too many West Leeds memory cafés to include more than a sample here, and
that’s without considering other options, such as weekly minibus trips to supermarkets,
dementia-friendly cinema showings, and neighbourhood strolls.
Follow the links at the end to find out about these and other memory cafés, groups and support services, and the amazing range of affordable social, therapeutic and creative options offered locally and across the Leeds area.
Not all memory cafés have parking, but you can expect a fully accessible building and toilets; a kitchen where volunteers make drinks and maybe toast a teacake; something interesting to do if you like, and good company in a pleasant environment.
A note from me, not from any organisers: All these brilliant volunteer-run memory cafés
have running costs for refreshments, entertainers, and often room hire, too. They run fund-
raising activities from time to time (like The Sunflower Café’s hilarious Beetle Drive in June) to cover those costs, so that they can charge as little as possible, including pay what you can.
Some are free! Memory café volunteers wouldn’t dream of asking for your spare change, but small change can make a big difference.
Each memory café has its own character.
- Penny Lane Dementia Café, Pudsey Congs Cricket Club, Fortnightly, on the second
and fourth Tuesday of the month, 2pm-4pm. Cost: £5.
Read all about it here!
- Remember Thursday, Bramley Lawn, every Thursday, 1pm-3.30pm, £4, or pay what you can. At one Remember Thursday, the tables had been moved together and every seat was
occupied by regulars who had come from all over Bramley.
Ian, a volunteer there for 15 years since he ‘retired’, said: “People have been coming for ages so they all know each other,” but if he spots anyone new, or on their own, Ian will go over for a chat.
People arrive between 1pm and 1.30pm, for a catch-up before Jackie brings out the tea and biscuits, and the planned activity starts.
Once a month, there’s a sing-song, and sometimes tin-can bowling or crafts, but this time
there was a collection of comedy shorts on the big screen – Monty Python and Frank
Spencer.
Lively conversation went back and forth about the careers of Michael Crawford and Doris Day: cue a clip from Calamity Jane! It was a really enjoyable afternoon, right down
to a game of bingo and the allowance of a full half-hour for everyone to sort themselves out and head for home between 3pm and 3.30pm. No wonder they keep on coming. Details here.
- Dementia Café, Aire View Care Home, Kirkstall, Monthly on the first Friday of the
month, 10.30am-12pm. Free.
One Friday morning, over coffee and biscuits in a charming little upstairs room overlooking a cherry tree in the car park, residents shared memories of a childhood in India, youthful
shenanigans in an air-raid shelter (“before I met your dad!”) and life in the army.
It was enlightening, and very entertaining for their visitors! No charge. Details here.
- Café Revive, St Wilfrid’s Parish Church, Calverley, Monthly, on the first Saturday of
the month, 2pm-4pm. Free. Café Revive happens in an old church fitted with a modern kitchen and servery and accessible toilets. It is relaxed and loosely structured, with table-top activities, memorabilia, and delicious refreshments.
People go for a quiet wander around the church or a private chat, or to browse the leaflets on the information table.
Volunteers circulate – sitting and chatting, bringing fresh drinks, and asking for requests. A Memory Support Worker visited, a Sporting Memories volunteer led a lively afternoon’s activities, and the String of Beads Choir is booked for later this year. Details here.
- The Sunflower Café, St John’s Church Hall, Farsley, Monthly except December, on the
third Saturday of the month, 10am-12pm. Cost: £1.
Enjoy a teacake, company and one of Shirley’s quizzes at The Sunflower Café.
The airy church hall has excellent acoustics when entertainers visit, and plenty of room to dance, too.
While still primarily a ‘memory café’ for Farsley and neighbouring communities, the
Sunflower Café’s doors are also open for anyone who wants to drop in for coffee, a quiz,
and maybe sing along or get up and dance when there’s an entertainer. Details here.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Useful links
Bramley Elderly Action offers activities at Bramley Lawn, Bramley Community Centre and Bramley Baths.
OWLS (Older Wiser Local Seniors) offer activities at various locations in Headingley and Burley.
You can find activity schedules and contact details for MHA Farsley, Pudsey and South Leeds here. farsley@mha.org.uk 07720 680366 or pudsey@mha.org.uk 07720 680366.
The directory here is largely up-to-date, with contact details for groups across the city.
Sponsored content
