Burley-in-Wharfedale Dementia Action Group
Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 24 May 2018
1. Present: Quentin Fowler (Chair), Susan Collins (Secretary), Niccola Swan (Treasurer), Sylvia Bergin (Vice Chair), Val McKenzie, Sue Jopling, Eileen Fowler, Julie Duerden (Dementia Friendly Communities Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Society), Val Eyre (Cohen’s Chemist), Mary Macpherson (Minutes)
2. Apologies: Ann Holmes, Judith Collins, Lisa Llewellyn, Paula Truman, John Wood.
3. Chair’s report on the year’s activities
Quentin, ably supported by other members of the Burley Dementia Action Group, provided his report at this first A.G.M. of the Group. He reminded members that the group had been in existence for 2½ years, and that its origin arose from a brief talk Lucy Maddison, the Manager of Baildon Community Link, gave at a public meeting organised by the Burley Parish Council, at which she floated the idea of concerned residents in the village meeting together in order that Burley might be a more dementia-friendly village. A few people at the meeting indicated that they were interested in following up this suggestion; Lucy then arranged a meeting at the Parish Centre to see if her idea could come to fruition.
Since its initial meeting in the autumn of 2015, the group has met on a monthly basis, at first under the very able leadership of Lucy. The group produced an Action Plan, adopted a constitution, and agreed to the appointment of a number of office holders.
During 2016, the focus of the work of the group was mainly concerned with firstly, providing information about dementia and secondly, trying to overcome any stigma there might be about the condition. A number of information sessions were arranged, conducted by ‘Dementia Champions’, and were given to residents of the village, school children, members of uniformed organisations, and a small number of businesses. At some of these sessions, initially run by Lucy and Sylvia Bergin, a resident who was caring for someone with dementia, and another person who had aphasia, spoke very movingly.
During 2016, the group started its own web-site, which was set up by Niccola Swan, started fund-raising and distributed a range of information leaflets. The fund-raising was helped by a number of generous donations, by official organisations and by individuals, as well as a number of coffee mornings, ably organised by Susan Collins.
During 2017, the focus changed to providing more personalised, individual support to both those who had dementia and to their carers. Members of the group had been attracted by the work of Elizabeth Anderson, who had set up a number of ‘Memory Trees’ in Bradford and the surrounding area. The format allowed for those with dementia and their carers to initially meet together, and then break into two groups,
one for carers, who were able to have valuable peer support, and one for those with dementia, who could have what might be called ‘reminiscence therapy’.
Perhaps the highlight for the group was in November 2017 when it was nominated and then awarded the honour of being named ‘Dementia Friendly Community of the Year’ by the Alzheimer’s Society; nominations could be made for groups from the whole of England and Wales.
The challenge for 2018 is to build on this success by attracting more members to the Memory Tree and to ensure that organisations in the village are more conscious of our aims.
It was suggested that it would be useful to know the number of information sessions held. Action: Sylvia and Quentin to start off the list.
4. Treasurer’s report
Niccola reported on the accounts. The Constitution was agreed in February 2017.The bank account was opened in May 2017 and so these figures represent around 7 months to 31st December 2017. Total income is £5,934 and total expense is £1,687. The year-end surplus is £4,248, which would fund roughly 2½ years’ worth of Memory Tree sessions. Each Memory Tree session costs on average £74 net. Very special thanks are due to the many generous donors and everyone who has helped with fundraising over the last couple of years. Thanks also to Duncan Ault for auditing the accounts.
5. Election of the Management Committee
Chair – Quentin Fowler
Vice-chair – Sylvia Bergin
Treasurer – Niccola Swan
Secretary – Susan Collins
Minutes Secretary – Mary Macpherson
6. A.O.B: None
Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on 24 May 2018
1. Present: Quentin Fowler (Chair), Susan Collins (Secretary), Niccola Swan (Treasurer), Sylvia Bergin (Vice Chair), Val McKenzie, Sue Jopling, Eileen Fowler, Julie Duerden (Dementia Friendly Communities Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Society), Val Eyre (Cohen’s Chemist), Mary Macpherson (Minutes)
2. Apologies: Ann Holmes, Judith Collins, Lisa Llewellyn, Paula Truman, John Wood.
3. Chair’s report on the year’s activities
Quentin, ably supported by other members of the Burley Dementia Action Group, provided his report at this first A.G.M. of the Group. He reminded members that the group had been in existence for 2½ years, and that its origin arose from a brief talk Lucy Maddison, the Manager of Baildon Community Link, gave at a public meeting organised by the Burley Parish Council, at which she floated the idea of concerned residents in the village meeting together in order that Burley might be a more dementia-friendly village. A few people at the meeting indicated that they were interested in following up this suggestion; Lucy then arranged a meeting at the Parish Centre to see if her idea could come to fruition.
Since its initial meeting in the autumn of 2015, the group has met on a monthly basis, at first under the very able leadership of Lucy. The group produced an Action Plan, adopted a constitution, and agreed to the appointment of a number of office holders.
During 2016, the focus of the work of the group was mainly concerned with firstly, providing information about dementia and secondly, trying to overcome any stigma there might be about the condition. A number of information sessions were arranged, conducted by ‘Dementia Champions’, and were given to residents of the village, school children, members of uniformed organisations, and a small number of businesses. At some of these sessions, initially run by Lucy and Sylvia Bergin, a resident who was caring for someone with dementia, and another person who had aphasia, spoke very movingly.
During 2016, the group started its own web-site, which was set up by Niccola Swan, started fund-raising and distributed a range of information leaflets. The fund-raising was helped by a number of generous donations, by official organisations and by individuals, as well as a number of coffee mornings, ably organised by Susan Collins.
During 2017, the focus changed to providing more personalised, individual support to both those who had dementia and to their carers. Members of the group had been attracted by the work of Elizabeth Anderson, who had set up a number of ‘Memory Trees’ in Bradford and the surrounding area. The format allowed for those with dementia and their carers to initially meet together, and then break into two groups,
one for carers, who were able to have valuable peer support, and one for those with dementia, who could have what might be called ‘reminiscence therapy’.
Perhaps the highlight for the group was in November 2017 when it was nominated and then awarded the honour of being named ‘Dementia Friendly Community of the Year’ by the Alzheimer’s Society; nominations could be made for groups from the whole of England and Wales.
The challenge for 2018 is to build on this success by attracting more members to the Memory Tree and to ensure that organisations in the village are more conscious of our aims.
It was suggested that it would be useful to know the number of information sessions held. Action: Sylvia and Quentin to start off the list.
4. Treasurer’s report
Niccola reported on the accounts. The Constitution was agreed in February 2017.The bank account was opened in May 2017 and so these figures represent around 7 months to 31st December 2017. Total income is £5,934 and total expense is £1,687. The year-end surplus is £4,248, which would fund roughly 2½ years’ worth of Memory Tree sessions. Each Memory Tree session costs on average £74 net. Very special thanks are due to the many generous donors and everyone who has helped with fundraising over the last couple of years. Thanks also to Duncan Ault for auditing the accounts.
5. Election of the Management Committee
Chair – Quentin Fowler
Vice-chair – Sylvia Bergin
Treasurer – Niccola Swan
Secretary – Susan Collins
Minutes Secretary – Mary Macpherson
6. A.O.B: None