Burley in Wharfedale Dementia Action Group Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 23 May 2019
Present: Quentin, Eileen, Niccola, Susan, Norah, Val, Paula, Lorraine, Ross Collard (Alzheimer’s Society), Mary
Apologies: Ann, Bob Felstead (Parish Council rep), John, Sylvia, Sandra, Jenn, Duncan Ault
1. Minutes of the AGM 24 May 2018 – accepted as a correct record.
2. Matters arising – Quentin has sent his list of attendees to the Dementia Friendly sessions to
Susan.
3. Chair’s report of the year Jan to Dec 2018 – see below.
4. Treasurer’s report
The Dementia Group began 2018 with £4,248 in the bank and ends the year with £6,671. We have been the beneficiary during the year of several very generous donations and fundraising events for which we are extremely grateful. The Memory Tree donations collected each session have raised £553, offset against direct costs of £1,921. We thank the Parish Centre for their support with room costs. Our surplus enabled us to contribute significantly towards the costs of our excellent trip to the Leeds Playhouse in December to see A Christmas Carol. Many thanks to Duncan Ault for being our independent auditor. A set of accounts is available on request.
5. Election of the Management Committee
All the existing members were elected unopposed and are as follows:
Chair, Quentin Fowler; Vice-chair, Sylvia Bergin; Treasurer, Niccola Swan; Secretary, Susan Collins; Minutes Secretary, Mary Macpherson.
6. Any other business
Thanks were expressed to all the volunteers for all the work they do.
Burley-in-Wharfedale Dementia Action Group
Review of 2018
1. Introduction The Burley-in-Wharfedale Dementia Action Group (BDAG) started in October 2015. It has come a long way since then. This is the second report, reviewing how the group’s activities have developed during 2018.
2. BDAG: Aims and Objectives The action group has continued to meet monthly at the Parish Centre on the fourth Thursday each month with just a couple of exceptions. At these meetings, we review recent activities and plan for future ones, and periodically check that our action plan is still relevant and that we are not missing anything.
3. BDAG: Organisation During 2018, the officers were Chair: Quentin Fowler; Vice Chair: Sylvia Bergin; Group Secretary: Susan Collins; Minute Secretary Mary McPherson; Treasurer: Niccola Swan.
4. BDAG: Execution of the Action Plan The Action Plan referred to above has provided the framework from which much of the work of the Group has been undertaken. This review will therefore again use the headings in the Plan to consider what has been achieved in 2018.
4.1 Raise awareness and understanding of dementia locally Information Sessions Dementia Friends sessions underpin a lot of our work and we have been encouraging more people to train as Dementia Champions. We have continued to be delivered during the year, with two sessions delivered to the library volunteers, two sessions to the Duke of Edinburgh award students and one in the Burley Summer Festival week.
A coffee morning (with tombola and raffle) was held in August and was well-attended. We were represented at many events during the year, including the Healthy Living session at the Burley Summer Festival and a U3A event in Ilkley.
Social media presence (website and Facebook) have been continued. We are grateful to the Burley Theatre Group for sharing information about us in their programme, the churches in their various publications, and so many local organisations who display our posters and flyers.
4.2 Work towards Burley-in-Wharfedale becoming a dementia friendly village Our work with people in our village has been as mentioned above. We have gained a reasonably high profile generally but there is more we can do, particularly with local businesses.
4.3 Support people with dementia and their carers The Memory Tree Setting up the Memory Tree remains the single most significant piece of work the group has undertaken. We are very grateful to Dr Elizabeth Anderson who has guided us and more directly to Bob Hutton who chooses the theme for each session and runs the reminiscence activities. The format of a Memory Tree meeting, which lasts for two hours, is very special, with time together being sociable, chatting, doing quizzes and singing for the first hour, and time apart for the second hour. In that second hour, the carers meet to talk about their particular situations and gain support from each other. The Memory Tree has met on the first and third Thursday of each month throughout 2018 (with the exception of one session snowed off in March) and the number of attendees has increased to the extent that we are having to limit new enquiries to Burley residents only – as the room is full! Many volunteers have provided wonderful support and have been taking on more responsibilities. We are grateful to speakers who have talked with the carers group. A review was conducted in June with Dr Anderson, the founder, and this proved very useful. The general consensus remains that this initiative is most worthwhile, both for those with memory problems and their carers.
Information about local resources BDAG has been keen to collect details of the resources that are available locally to assist those with dementia and their carers. Pamphlets outlining the facilities provided by Carers Resource, the Alzheimer’s Society and Age UK in the locality have been made available and speakers have periodically attended the carers’ group within the Memory Tree. Various volunteers attend regional meetings and report back on new resources and the activities of other local dementia groups.
Outings We promote local events which are dementia-related or dementia-friendly and in December 2018 decided to organise our first formal outing, a coach trip to Leeds Playhouse (LPH; previously West Yorkshire Playhouse) to see A Christmas Carol. LPH is well-known for its dementia friendly approach and about 50 of us had a great welcome and a wonderful afternoon out, which included a drive through the Christmas lights of Leeds. We have encouraged members to attend events at Ilkley Playhouse and the Ladies Please concert.
4.4 Improve local partnership working
Grange Park Surgery Burley Medical Practice agreed that it would promote BDAG activities as part of its Dementia Friendly remit. Referrals to The Memory Tree do come through the GPs. A large display board, providing information about dementia is in a prominent position in the waiting area of the clinic.
Burley Nursery – a lovely new trans-generational partnership has been formed here and several children came to sing at our Christmas party.
Local dementia groups We have linked with the overall organisation and in particular with Sildsen, Keighley, Ilkley, Baildon and Bramhope. We have been actively involved in the Well Wharfedale initiative.
We were grateful to participate in a training event on Safeguarding, a responsibility which we take very seriously. Our links with Burley Parish Council remain strong.
5. Publicity BDAG has been keen that information on its activities should be made available to as many local residents as possible. Regular features have appeared in the Ilkley Gazette and our Facebook page has a good following. As already mentioned, our events are generously publicised by many other village organisations.
6. Financial The Memory Tree has a cost for each session: the rent (the Parish Centre is generous in many ways), Bob as activities lead, and material resources. Donations from attendees are invited but additional funds are required. We have been so fortunate to be the recipients of many local fundraising activities and we thank most sincerely the individuals and organisations who have given us funds this year and who helped at our own coffee morning. We have also complied with the new data protection legislation.
7. Conclusion We have had a very good year and thank most sincerely everyone who has helped in so many different ways. The Memory Tree has become a significant success. A remaining challenge for 2019 and beyond is to engage with businesses in the village so that shopping can be a pleasurable experience for those who have dementia. It is to be hoped that the many willing volunteers who have done so much to give the group such a positive start will be encouraged by what has been achieved so far to look for even greater progress in the future.
Quentin Fowler
Present: Quentin, Eileen, Niccola, Susan, Norah, Val, Paula, Lorraine, Ross Collard (Alzheimer’s Society), Mary
Apologies: Ann, Bob Felstead (Parish Council rep), John, Sylvia, Sandra, Jenn, Duncan Ault
1. Minutes of the AGM 24 May 2018 – accepted as a correct record.
2. Matters arising – Quentin has sent his list of attendees to the Dementia Friendly sessions to
Susan.
3. Chair’s report of the year Jan to Dec 2018 – see below.
4. Treasurer’s report
The Dementia Group began 2018 with £4,248 in the bank and ends the year with £6,671. We have been the beneficiary during the year of several very generous donations and fundraising events for which we are extremely grateful. The Memory Tree donations collected each session have raised £553, offset against direct costs of £1,921. We thank the Parish Centre for their support with room costs. Our surplus enabled us to contribute significantly towards the costs of our excellent trip to the Leeds Playhouse in December to see A Christmas Carol. Many thanks to Duncan Ault for being our independent auditor. A set of accounts is available on request.
5. Election of the Management Committee
All the existing members were elected unopposed and are as follows:
Chair, Quentin Fowler; Vice-chair, Sylvia Bergin; Treasurer, Niccola Swan; Secretary, Susan Collins; Minutes Secretary, Mary Macpherson.
6. Any other business
Thanks were expressed to all the volunteers for all the work they do.
Burley-in-Wharfedale Dementia Action Group
Review of 2018
1. Introduction The Burley-in-Wharfedale Dementia Action Group (BDAG) started in October 2015. It has come a long way since then. This is the second report, reviewing how the group’s activities have developed during 2018.
2. BDAG: Aims and Objectives The action group has continued to meet monthly at the Parish Centre on the fourth Thursday each month with just a couple of exceptions. At these meetings, we review recent activities and plan for future ones, and periodically check that our action plan is still relevant and that we are not missing anything.
3. BDAG: Organisation During 2018, the officers were Chair: Quentin Fowler; Vice Chair: Sylvia Bergin; Group Secretary: Susan Collins; Minute Secretary Mary McPherson; Treasurer: Niccola Swan.
4. BDAG: Execution of the Action Plan The Action Plan referred to above has provided the framework from which much of the work of the Group has been undertaken. This review will therefore again use the headings in the Plan to consider what has been achieved in 2018.
4.1 Raise awareness and understanding of dementia locally Information Sessions Dementia Friends sessions underpin a lot of our work and we have been encouraging more people to train as Dementia Champions. We have continued to be delivered during the year, with two sessions delivered to the library volunteers, two sessions to the Duke of Edinburgh award students and one in the Burley Summer Festival week.
A coffee morning (with tombola and raffle) was held in August and was well-attended. We were represented at many events during the year, including the Healthy Living session at the Burley Summer Festival and a U3A event in Ilkley.
Social media presence (website and Facebook) have been continued. We are grateful to the Burley Theatre Group for sharing information about us in their programme, the churches in their various publications, and so many local organisations who display our posters and flyers.
4.2 Work towards Burley-in-Wharfedale becoming a dementia friendly village Our work with people in our village has been as mentioned above. We have gained a reasonably high profile generally but there is more we can do, particularly with local businesses.
4.3 Support people with dementia and their carers The Memory Tree Setting up the Memory Tree remains the single most significant piece of work the group has undertaken. We are very grateful to Dr Elizabeth Anderson who has guided us and more directly to Bob Hutton who chooses the theme for each session and runs the reminiscence activities. The format of a Memory Tree meeting, which lasts for two hours, is very special, with time together being sociable, chatting, doing quizzes and singing for the first hour, and time apart for the second hour. In that second hour, the carers meet to talk about their particular situations and gain support from each other. The Memory Tree has met on the first and third Thursday of each month throughout 2018 (with the exception of one session snowed off in March) and the number of attendees has increased to the extent that we are having to limit new enquiries to Burley residents only – as the room is full! Many volunteers have provided wonderful support and have been taking on more responsibilities. We are grateful to speakers who have talked with the carers group. A review was conducted in June with Dr Anderson, the founder, and this proved very useful. The general consensus remains that this initiative is most worthwhile, both for those with memory problems and their carers.
Information about local resources BDAG has been keen to collect details of the resources that are available locally to assist those with dementia and their carers. Pamphlets outlining the facilities provided by Carers Resource, the Alzheimer’s Society and Age UK in the locality have been made available and speakers have periodically attended the carers’ group within the Memory Tree. Various volunteers attend regional meetings and report back on new resources and the activities of other local dementia groups.
Outings We promote local events which are dementia-related or dementia-friendly and in December 2018 decided to organise our first formal outing, a coach trip to Leeds Playhouse (LPH; previously West Yorkshire Playhouse) to see A Christmas Carol. LPH is well-known for its dementia friendly approach and about 50 of us had a great welcome and a wonderful afternoon out, which included a drive through the Christmas lights of Leeds. We have encouraged members to attend events at Ilkley Playhouse and the Ladies Please concert.
4.4 Improve local partnership working
Grange Park Surgery Burley Medical Practice agreed that it would promote BDAG activities as part of its Dementia Friendly remit. Referrals to The Memory Tree do come through the GPs. A large display board, providing information about dementia is in a prominent position in the waiting area of the clinic.
Burley Nursery – a lovely new trans-generational partnership has been formed here and several children came to sing at our Christmas party.
Local dementia groups We have linked with the overall organisation and in particular with Sildsen, Keighley, Ilkley, Baildon and Bramhope. We have been actively involved in the Well Wharfedale initiative.
We were grateful to participate in a training event on Safeguarding, a responsibility which we take very seriously. Our links with Burley Parish Council remain strong.
5. Publicity BDAG has been keen that information on its activities should be made available to as many local residents as possible. Regular features have appeared in the Ilkley Gazette and our Facebook page has a good following. As already mentioned, our events are generously publicised by many other village organisations.
6. Financial The Memory Tree has a cost for each session: the rent (the Parish Centre is generous in many ways), Bob as activities lead, and material resources. Donations from attendees are invited but additional funds are required. We have been so fortunate to be the recipients of many local fundraising activities and we thank most sincerely the individuals and organisations who have given us funds this year and who helped at our own coffee morning. We have also complied with the new data protection legislation.
7. Conclusion We have had a very good year and thank most sincerely everyone who has helped in so many different ways. The Memory Tree has become a significant success. A remaining challenge for 2019 and beyond is to engage with businesses in the village so that shopping can be a pleasurable experience for those who have dementia. It is to be hoped that the many willing volunteers who have done so much to give the group such a positive start will be encouraged by what has been achieved so far to look for even greater progress in the future.
Quentin Fowler