Isle of Wight people with dementia received a major boost when the Alzheimer Café IOW was presented with funding to buy much-needed equipment.
The forward-thinking café needed more kitchen equipment to so that it could prepare and provide a more extensive range of refreshments for its guests.
Volunteers at Alzheimer Café IOW applied to Tesco’s Stronger Starts scheme, which awards funds to charities and community organisations that make a positive difference in the lives of people.
Bennett: The money is already making a significant difference
The café’s application was successful, earning it the maximum £1,500 grant, and CEO Maggie Bennett said,
“The money is already making a significant difference to people on the Island who have dementia.”
Thompson: There is an ever-growing need here for facilities such as ours
Paulette Thompson, a Trustee at the café, added,
“We are very grateful to Tesco for this funding. It has gone towards purchasing kitchen equipment such as a trolley, air pot flasks, toaster, microwave, cutlery, crockery and storage units.
“These enable us to prepare and provide a more extensive range of refreshments for our guests during the café.
“The service that is provided at the café is enhanced by the refreshments and drinks, which encourages our guests to feel more relaxed and able to chat with each other, sharing experiences in a safe environment and enabling them to understand that they are not alone.
“There is an ever-growing need here for facilities such as ours because the Isle of Wight has one of the highest number of people affected with dementia in the country.”
Stronger Starts scheme
The Stronger Starts scheme, in partnership with the Groundwork charity, aims to support many Isle of Wight community projects and good causes in the coming years, with thousands of pounds to give away.
The scheme gives shoppers a chance to vote for local good causes to receive a £500, £1,000 or £1,500 grant.
Claire De Silva, Head of Community at Tesco, said,
“We’re delighted that we can help voluntary organisations like the Alzheimer Café. Stronger Starts invites our customers to use their blue tokens to vote for local schemes they feel will benefit people on the Isle of Wight and it’s so good to see the impact that the funding makes.”
Find out more
Isle of Wight shoppers can support their local organisations and groups by dropping the Tesco blue token they receive at checkout into the relevant voting box as they leave the store.
For further information about Stronger Starts, visit the website.
More information about Alzheimer Café IOW is available online.
News shared by Glenn on behalf of Tesco. Ed
