Dementia charity marks 35th anniversary with new name

A dementia charity which runs a day club in Warminster is marking its 35th anniversary with a new name and new look.

Wiltshire-based Alzheimer’s Support, which provides advice, support and care to people living with dementia and family carers, is now known as Beyond Dementia.

Beyond Dementia employs around 130 people in Wiltshire and has more than 200 volunteers. It provides practical support to 2,500 people each year, including one-to-one companionship at home, national award-winning day clubs, dementia advisers and a growing range of community groups and activities from dementia choirs to memory cafés in local areas.

In Warminster, it runs the Old Silk Works day club, an art group and a memory group, and offers one-to-one home support and a dementia advice service.

“Beyond Dementia reflects our ethos that there is life to be lived, and enjoyed, after a diagnosis of dementia, and how we see the person behind the diagnosis,” said CEO Sarah Marriott.

“We know people sometimes confuse us with a national charity or think that we only support people with Alzheimer’s. After consulting with our staff, volunteers and the people who use our services, we decided to be bold and go for a new name and refresh our brand.

“We haven’t changed our ethos, staff teams or our ways of working. For anyone who uses our services, the only thing that will change is the name on the door.

“Beyond Dementia reflects how we concentrate on the person we are supporting, their preferences and needs, rather than their diagnosis. At our day clubs we ‘leave dementia at the door’ and come together as a group of friends. In our community groups, we concentrate on the task in hand, whether it is singing together, creating art or enjoying the great outdoors.”

To find out more about the charity, access support or get involved, visit https://www.beyonddementia.org.uk.