On Friday, March 10, Swanage Area dementia Friendly Community and Wareham-based Dementia Friendly Purbeck celebrated their official merger to become 'Dementia Friendly Purbeck', covering the entire Purbeck district.
The groups mission is:
• To raise awareness and understanding of dementia;
• To share best practice and understanding;
• To create a safe and non stigmatising community where people with dementia can live well;
• To create an environment where the carer and person with dementia can seek
appropriate help and support;
• To raise funds and support the Admiral Nurse within the Purbeck area.
"We have been successful in getting a community Admiral Nurse for the Purbeck area," said chairman Mike Bonfield.
"To move forward the two groups have agreed to merge and we will be known as "Dementia Friendly Purbeck” this will in no way detract from the two groups still being very active in their own areas and expand to other areas within Purbeck. Our aims are still the same as when both groups launched. In addition to supporting our Admiral Nurse, we believe that there are new ways to help our Admiral Nurse and these will be explored."
The new group will have a steering group with three members from each group and the officers will be elected from these,
The present officers are:
Chairman – Mike Bonfield
Treasurer – Mo Andrews
Secretary George Pothecary
Please note that until we have a completed the merger both groups will be using their existing logos and contact details.
Website: www.dementiafriendlypurbeck.org
email-nfo@dementiafriendlypurbeck.co.uk email- Swanagedementia201843@yahoo.com
Both groups also have a Facebook page
Photo: Dementia Friendly Purbeck chairman Mike Bonfield and secretary George Pothecary at the Merger Launch Event on March 10.
See Gallery page for more photos of the event