Author: Isobel Wise

With Volunteer’s Week kicking off today, we’d like to take the opportunity to thank our incredible team of 90+ volunteers who support our work at Alive.

Unable to deliver our vital services without them, our volunteers are central to our aim of lighting up later life. Supporting us across our Dementia Meeting Centres, Community Gardening opportunities, and Intergenerational Projects, they help bring so much joy, wisdom and warmth to everything we do.

To celebrate Volunteer’s Week 2025, two of our lovely team shared what it’s like to volunteer with Alive…

Get Involved

If you’re interested in connecting with your local community, learning new skills and making a real difference in the lives of others, why not join our team? Find out more about our Volunteering Opportunities here.

We provide training and reimburse expenses. Our Volunteer Coordinator is available for ongoing support. 

Contact us at volunteer@aliveactivities.org or 07861 385 543 for more info and to apply.

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We are thrilled to announce the return of our Toddlers Who Came To Tea intergenerational tea parties at the Bristol Royal Infirmary.

A chance to connect with others over tea & cake, as well as explore local history and stories. This opportunity is for young people with their grown ups alongside patients at the BRI.

There are still spaces left for the tea party in June, so please do get in touch if your toddler (and you!) would like to join us.

Please email mel@aliveactivities.org for more information and to book a FREE space.

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“We need to talk about dementia more.” In light of Dementia Action Week, our CEO Isobel Jones shared a story about her recent opportunity to raise dementia awareness outside of work: at her local rowing club. Have a read below…

“For those of you who know me well, I’m a rowing bore and spend a lot of my time on the water. The other day, I had a great opportunity to combine two of my passions and offer dementia training to my Portishead Pilot Gig Club. To be honest, I was nervous. It’s hard mixing work life with normal life, but I’m so glad I did it.

We need to normalise and talk about dementia more. Encourage people to know the symptoms and what to look out for. To go and get a diagnosis.

It can be very hard to talk about. We often don’t want to face it. But, by talking about it in a normal way, we can help break the stigma and support those who are living with it.

Let’s keep sharing. Let’s keep talking about dementia. You never know who it will help.”

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Our second Let’s Talk Dementia event with Bristol Dementia Action Alliance and Brace was held last Saturday at Watershed in Bristol.

Held just before Dementia Awareness Week which starts today, it was a brilliant opportunity to highlight dementia and to show the support, advice and care that is available to those affected by it.

A huge thank you to ITV presenters Seb Choudhury and Alex Lovell for opening and creating a spotlight on dementia.

Welcoming industry professionals, people living with dementia, carers and family members, the day brought so many people together to share and find support.

Talks covered topics such as symptoms, wellbeing, empathy and personal stories. Uplifting the voices of people living with dementia, the event gave attendees the chance to engage with a wide range of services available to them such as memory cafes, financial and legal support, care services – even an intro to robots!

Plus for those who wanted something different, the range of music, exercise, nature and reminiscence activities on offer brought real creativity and fun to the day.

It was an absolute privilege to work with Brace and Bristol Dementia Action Alliance and have dementia front and centre in Bristol. It just shows what can be done when charities work together – we are looking forward to making more of a difference with these amazing organisations.

Let’s keep talking about dementia.

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Talking on air about the benefits of technology for people living dementia, it was great to hear our CEO Isobel Jones on BBC Radio Bristol last week. Have a listen below…

Listen to the full feature on BBC Sounds here.

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Tabletop Travels is a brilliant initiative to have come out of the work Alive have done with the University of Bristol as part of the Connecting Through Culture project: a multi-sensory travel experience in the form of a gift box, co-designed with and for older people who are isolated at home.

Leading on on business strategy and developing relationships with corporate sponsors and community partners, this role will be instrumental in getting Tabletop Travels to those for whom it will make a real difference.

Find out more here.

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Watch us on The One Show – airing on 25 March 2025, the BBC crew joined us for a Hoppiness session at Beaufort Grange Care home, interviewing Guy about the project and chatting to participants.

Watch the feature on BBC iPlayer here (from 02:20).

The feature was fronted by Ted Lasso actor and Celebrity Bear Hunt competitor Kola Bokinni, whose personal experience with dementia has made him a passionate advocate for greater support and understanding for those affected by the disease. It was fantastic chatting with Kola about the project’s aims—especially the importance of meaningful, engaging activities for those living with dementia and how Alive’s work supports everyone affected by dementia, not just those with the diagnosis.

Another key goal of The Hoppiness Project was to challenge perceptions around dementia and care homes so we are incredibly proud that this feature is part of the BBC’s special new season across TV, iPlayer and Radio called Memories and Dementia: Starting the Conversation.

A huge thank you to all our amazing partners who made this happen:

– Karen & Martin from the University of Bristol’s Brigstow Institute
– Rich from Left Handed Giant Brewing Co.
– Lucy from Beaufort Grange Care Home
– The team at Bristol Hops Collective

Find out more about The Hoppiness Project here.

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Following a change in staffing at Age UK Bristol, we are thrilled to announce we have reached agreement to transfer their Memory Connections service to Alive. This transition ensures the continuation of top-quality services aimed at supporting people with low to moderate dementia to maintain their cognitive ability through stimulating activities and social engagement. Age UK Bristol have been running two groups in Bristol for the last four years, providing vital support to those who are living with dementia, and we are delighted we can continue these groups.

Continuity of Excellence in Dementia Support

Memory Connections uses Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy which is designed to maintain memory skills, build confidence, and offer opportunities for socialisation in a supportive environment. These weekly two-hour sessions incorporate a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, reminiscence therapy, quizzes, music, and movement, all aimed at promoting mental functioning and overall wellbeing.

These groups naturally fit with the expertise and activity Alive runs, and we are delighted we can continue a much-needed service. We are renowned for our innovative approaches, intergenerational work, social and therapeutic horticulture sessions, and community-based initiatives that connect people in care homes to broader communities. These groups take our service to the next level and we hope to expand these groups to a wider area.

A Continued Quality Service for Dementia Care

This partnership reflects a unified vision to create a dementia-friendly community in Bristol, where people with dementia are supported to live well and remain connected to their communities. The transition promises to enrich the lives of participants and provide continued respite and support for carers. Age UK Bristol and Alive Activities are working together to ensure that the transition is seamless and works well for all of the current members.

Looking Ahead

Age UK Bristol’s final Memory Connections session will be held on Wednesday 12^th March 2025 and the service will then transfer to Alive Activities who will be running Memory Connections sessions from 19^th March.

Alive will run Wednesday groups at Westbury Fields in Westbury-on-Trym, and Thursday groups in Henleaze.  

For more details on timings and venues, please contact Carmel on 07861 385 543, email info@aliveactivities.org, or find out more here.

It was brilliant to see the BBC coverage of our Lullaby Circle yesterday on BBC Breakfast, Points West and Radio Bristol with Joe Sims.

Filmed at Deerhurst Care Home, it was a great chance to share how truly magical these sessions are at connecting parents and babies with care home residents for moments of joy and togetherness. Just look at those smiles!

The Lullaby Circle is part of our STANd project, funded by The National Lottery. The programme will see the development of a series of pilot projects in care homes and communities linking older and younger people, new training models in intergenerational delivery and project planning, and the founding of Bristol and North Somerset Intergenerational Linking Networks. 

Find out more here.

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Are you someone who is experiencing memory difficulties? Awaiting or adjusting to a dementia diagnosis? Or supporting a loved one who is?

If so, you are very welcome to join us in our free informal monthly peer support group where you are invited to:

This group is open to South Gloucestershire residents who are aged 55+ experiencing memory difficulties or living with a recent dementia diagnosis, plus their care partners.

If you are interested in attending this group or would like further information, please email: julie@aliveactivities.org