Dementia Matters Here(fordshire) Launch New Bus

Dementia Matters Here(fordshire) is a charity based in Herefordshire, founded in January 2020 and dedicated to providing support and information to individuals diagnosed with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), their carers and families

It’s aims include:

• Raising awareness;

• Creating Dementia Friendly Communities

• Delivering supportive services across the county

It has a mixture of full and part time staff providing the following services:

• Telephone Support Line

• Memory Cafes

• Carer Support Groups

• One-to-One Support

• Care Home Support

• CAMBUS

• Community Development

• Meeting Centres

Across Herefordshire there are currently over 3,000 people living with dementia and DMH supports anyone in the county who is affected by the disease whether they are living within the community or in care settings.

Prior to DMH being established there was very little support available for people post diagnosis, a lack of social opportunities, a lack of awareness or understanding and a high level of stigma.

DMH has assisted over 650 individuals and their families from across Herefordshire. It now runs Memory cafes in five locations and has  Meeting centres and Carers groups all over the county.

The CAMBUS “Molly” travels across the county visiting, what can be isolated, rural communities, bringing our services to those who would otherwise struggle to travel to organised events. She is also used as the face of the charity at county agricultural shows and other events.

Over the last year it became apparent that the 21-year-old transit van was creaking and that a replacement was required. Martin Steer and the DMH team set themselves the task of raising £50,000  required for a new vehicle. The charity has received many generous donations, and other fund-raising activities have helped them reach this target so that the new bus is now ready to serve the Herefordshire community.

It was handed over to the charity today by the Lord Lieutenant of Herefordshire Edward Harley CBE, at a ceremony in Pembridge. Other guests included Councillor Roger Phillips OBE  Chair of Herefordshire County Council and Ellie Chowns MP.  Supporters of the charity enjoyed a reception at The New Inn. Dementia Matters Here(fordshire) founder and trustee, Dr. Shirley Evans, thanked everyone for their generosity which will enable the charity to continue its work for many years to come.