Centre fundraiser is cream of the crop

A cream tea afternoon at Altham Meadows day centre in Morecambe has raised £200. Pictured are service users, staff and country and western entertainer Billy Blundell at the cream tea afternoon. Altham Meadows was not affected by the closure of the NHS continuing care unit in the same building in March.

The special cream tea afternoon at Altham Meadows day centre on Bartholomew Road, Morecambe, raised £200 which will help pay for treats and little extras.

Run by Lancashire County Council, the centre offers daytime support for people who have been diagnosed with dementia, and holds fundraising cream tea afternoons twice a year to help boost funds.

Lisa Law, day centre officer, said: “It’s always wonderful to have a get-together with the people who use our services, their friends and families, as well as staff and local people.

“The weather couldn’t have been better and the money we raised will help to pay for treats and little extras such as activity products and seasonal gifts. On behalf of all of us at Altham Meadows, I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped to make this such a special afternoon.”

Altham Meadows offers a range of activities, such as arts and crafts, quizzes, dancing, exercise and hobbies, to help people with a diagnosis of dementia to lead a full and happy life.

As well as helping to prevent people from becoming socially isolated, going to the centre means that staff can pick up on any other health or mobility issues at an earlier stage, which reduces the chance of problems escalating into a crisis. The centre also provides help and support for carers.

Lisa said: “We’re very much focused on people as individuals, and wherever possible we try to encourage them to keep up with their hobbies and interests, or to take them up again if they have lost a bit of confidence or motivation.

“They also tell us that it helps them to regain a sense of purpose and a feeling they still have something to contribute.”