Word-blooms spoken and written by patients, relatives, staff and volunteers in the Sanctuary Square garden, arranged by Poet in Residence Beth Calverley.
Find out more about out gardening initiative at Bristol Royal Infirmary’s Sanctuary Square here.
The Bristol Elders groups hosted Tony Kelly at Easton Community Centre earlier this month, inviting the Diabetes Ambassador to give a talk about diabetes prevention and explore how the disease affects the Afro-Caribbean community.
Part of the groups’ varied programme of speakers, Tony’s talk highlighted how people from Black African, African Caribbean and South Asian backgrounds are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes from a younger age. With the exact reason for this not yet known, the disease can lead to serious health conditions if not treated, making talks like this crucial for our communities.
Drawing on his specialist knowledge of diabetes in the Afro-Caribbean community, as well as his own experience of living with the disease, Tony shared important information on how diabetes can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed with diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening, as well as treatment for complications.
Finding the talk incredibly informative, the Bristol Elders have invited Tony back for a longer Q&A session for anyone that is interested.
Download some more information about diabetes here.
Keep up with the Bristol Elders Groups here.
We’re thrilled to announce the public release of ‘Forget Me Not’: a documentary from UWE filmmakers, featuring our dementia-friendly allotment in Brentry, which celebrates its four-year anniversary this July.
Back in October 2022, Alive were approached by five second-year filmmaking students who had been tasked with creating a 10-minute documentary on a subject they felt passionate about. We jumped at the opportunity to collaborate with Fay, Charlotte, Freya, Romy, and Emily, and invited them to join us for a cup of tea at the end of one of our sessions.
Their initial visit turned into three, during which time they built genuine connections with participants, filming with great sensitivity and care in a way that made people feel respected, comfortable, and truly seen.
Filmed as autumn transitioned into winter – on days that were cold, damp, and misty – the footage somehow radiates warmth and a space full of joy, meaning, and belonging. Through interviews and glimpsed moments of digging, planting, laughter, and quiet conversation, the film beautifully captures the essence of what our sessions offer.
The film is a powerful and evocative snapshot of a moment in time at the allotment, full of meaning, purpose, and connection.
More than anything, we hope the film shows how vital it is to support people living with dementia in ways that honour who they are; and the importance of not wrapping people in cotton wool or underestimating their abilities.
After pitching to film festivals, ‘Forget Me Not’ enjoys its public release on the anniversary of our North Bristol dementia-friendly allotment, which was officially opened in July 2021 by Marvin Rees, the then Mayor of Bristol.
Since its launch, our Brentry site has blossomed into one the charity’s biggest achievements. In 2022, the allotment won Markel’s prestigious Dementia Care Award and welcomed the BBC film crew for a special feature on Gardener’s World. Hosting regular events, launching new schemes for carers, inviting care home groups and our amazing team of volunteers, as well as our regular members for weekly sessions of dementia-friendly gardening, the allotment continues to thrive as a sanctuary for our entire community.
At the launch, Marvin Rees said the space will bring “hope” to Bristol, and it’s been a pleasure to see that come to fruition.
Having gardened all her life, Bruna and her daughter-in-law, Karen, gave us this heart-warming exchange in the film:
Karen: “It’s a nice, peaceful place to come. The people are lovely; the atmosphere’s lovely, and it’s just your happy place, isn’t it?”
Bruna: “Yeah, when I come in from the top, I always think ‘This is my life. I love it, I really love it.”
Credits:
Director: Freya Wellaway
Producer: Charlotte Anderson
DoP: Romy Robbin
Editor: Fay Rippon
Sound: Emily Jorgenson Stephens
Music: Noah Merrall
We are thrilled to announce that we have received an Award of Excellence as Number One Charity of the Year for Older People at the 2025 E2 Media Awards.
Coinciding with the anniversary of our beloved founder, Tim Lloyd-Yeates, who passed away ten years ago, we opened the trophy on his memorial bench at our dementia-friendly allotment in North Bristol, surrounded by some of the older people we support.
Spotlighting the outstanding achievements of organisations that have demonstrated innovation and resilience in the face of adversity, it is an honour to be recognised by E2 Media. Praising our commitment to lighting up later life, the judges said:
Alive’s exceptional dedication to providing unparalleled service has set them apart, earning them the recognition and admiration of their industry peers and clients. This accolade highlights Alive’s commitment to excellence and the consistent efforts to go above and beyond in ensuring a positive and seamless experience for the older people they support. We think it’s important to recognise organisations bringing something new and innovative to their marketplace. They don’t have to be the biggest. However, they have to be an organisation that is trying to offer something different from what is already out there. Above all, they must provide a great product or service. We feel that Alive ticks all the boxes and is a worthy winner of our award.
E2 Media Award Judges
Speaking on the award and anniversary of Tim’s passing, our CEO Isobel Jones said:
To be honoured in this way for our dedication and commitment to older people means so much. It is an emotional testament to the vision Tim had, to the powerful force he inspired to not only bring love and joy to the lives of older people, but to the light he shone on the care system and how he has inspired change.
Ten years on, and I know he would be so incredibly proud of how we have continued to innovate, experiment and pioneer – and continue to build on his incredible legacy. With our recent award wins for our Meeting Centres and BRI Garden, as well as recognition for our Hoppiness Project, he’d definitely be smiling!
Isobel Jones, Alive CEO
A huge thank you to E2 Media for this incredible honour.
Dubbed the “future of dementia care”, we are delighted to see our Dementia Meeting Centres and BRI Hospital Garden honoured at this year’s prestigious Dementia Care Awards.
Crowned for their “unwavering commitment”, we couldn’t be more proud of our Dementia Meeting Centre team for picking up this award. Providing people living with dementia “lifelines” of support, friendship and activity, it’s brilliant to see our important work in Bristol and North Somerset recognised nationally.
Demonstrates a deep and unwavering commitment to person-centred values by actively supporting individuals to explore activities that hold personal meaning for them. This approach not only respects their unique preferences and interests, but also creates pathways for them to access enriching opportunities that enhance their overall quality of life, wellbeing, and sense of fulfilment.
Judges’ comments
Receiving glowing feedback, our second accolade went to our joint venture with the Dementia, Delirium and Falls team at Bristol & Weston Hospital’s Charity. Since 2023, our Sanctuary Square courtyard garden at Bristol Royal Infirmary has provided patients and their loved ones access to dementia-friendly gardening and green crafts
Amanda Groves, Head of Fundraising, is not just a force of nature – her dedication to this cause is deeply personal. Paired with Head Gardener Abi’s tenacity and drive, they form and incredible duo, creating a powerful force for positive change. This visionary approach truly represents the future of dementia care.
Judges’ comments
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…
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.
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
