The Dementia Project

The Churches Together in Cumbria Dementia Project (2016 - 2020):

‘Making every church in Cumbria ‘dementia friendly’ by 2020’

The Dementia Project ran for five years, working towards its stated aim to make every church in Cumbria ‘dementia friendly’ by 2020. During this time churches were seeking to become places of welcome and belonging for all those affected by dementia, whether regular churchgoers, lapsed church attenders, or those who have never attended church before. The Project aimed to help churches review and improve what they did for those affected by dementia who may need extra help or support, working to create communities of acceptance, belonging, inclusion and welcome.
 
At its heart, the Project created a network of Dementia Enablers, people in their local churches who were working with their local church leadership to make the vision of the Project a reality where they were.
 
At the end of the project 140 Dementia Enablers were based in nearly 100 churches from nine denominations across Cumbria (See the list below of churches). 
 
Different churches have creatively responded to the challenge of the Project in many different ways reflecting their local needs and context. Examples of this response include:
- a comfortable seating area in church with cushions and throws
- dementia-friendly pew cards
- an information file outlining local resources for those affected by dementia
- church-based Memory Clubs
- Tea Services: short services with familiar readings and hymns followed by tea, cake and conversation
- Representation on local Dementia Action Alliances. 

In other places, individuals are quietly getting alongside those affected by dementia to enable them to stay part of the life of the church in meaningful ways despite their diagnosis.

Regular Tea Services:
Barrow: Holy Family Church, 2nd Monday of the month 2.00pm
Carlisle: URC, West Walls, 3rd Tuesday of the month 2.00pm
Cleator: St Mary's Church: A service of Reflection and Prayers: A Biblical yoga service, 1st Monday of the month 1.00pm
Kendal: Kendal Parish Church, 3rd Thursday of the month 2.30pm
Langwathby: Langwathby Methodist Chapel, 1st Tuesday of the month 2.00pm
Penrith: Christ Church, every Friday 2.30pm
Milnthorpe: St Thomas Church, 3rd Thursday of the month 2.00pm

Please check before planning to attend any of these sessions. Times and days may have changed.  
 
In addition, the Dementia Project hosted an annual Churches Together Dementia Conference.  The 5th conference was held on Saturday, September 19th 2020 via zoom.  Speakers included the Rt Revd James Newcome: Bishop of Carlisle, David Richardson: Vice-President of Churches Together in Cumbria; Kate Lee CEO of the Alzheimer's Society and Julia Burton-Jones, Church Lead for Anna Chaplaincy nationally. This conference marked the end of the current Dementia Project, and also acted as a launch for the new Anna Chaplaincy project. 

Resources
 
Featured are some resources that may be of use generally in terms of working with older people, those affected by dementia, and more specifically those that focus on creating dementia-friendly church.
https://www.shaftesburygroup.org
https://www.shaftesburygroup.org/ten-ways-for-your-church-to-be-more-inclusive-of-people-living-with-dementia/
 
www.faithinolderpeople.org.uk
A wealth of material exploring the spiritual aspects of the lives of older people as well as information about creating dementia-friendly church
 
www.alzheimers.org.uk
A lot of information here, including factsheets on many topics that can be downloaded.
 
www.dementiafriends.org.uk
Shows you how to become a Dementia Friend and how to help others become Dementia Friends too.
 
Churches or groups of churches across Cumbria who have trained a Dementia Enabler. These are arranged in alphabetical order of place and then the name of the particular church or group.
 
Allithwaite: St Marys
Alston Moor Parish Church
Arnside Methodist Church
Arnside: St James
Aspatria with Hayton and Gilcrux
Barrow: Beacon Hill Methodist
             Trinity Centre
             Ramsden St URC
             St Georges
             St Pauls
             Spring Mount
Barbon Parish Church
Bassenthwaite Methodist Church
Beetham Parish Church
Binsey Mission Community
Brampton Methodist Church
Brathay Holy Trinity
Brigflatts Quaker Meeting
Brigham Methodist Church
Bromfield St Mungos
Carlisle Border Kirk
             Cathedral
             Our Lady & St Josephs
             St Bedes
             Wigton Rd Methodist Church
             St Georges URC
             St James
             St John the Baptist
             St Augustines
Carnforth Free Methodist Church
Cartmel Quaker Meeting
Cockermouth All Saints
                      Christ Church
                      Kings Church
                      Lorton St Methodist Church
Crook St Catherines
Cumberland Area Quaker Meeting
East of Eden Mission Community
                    All Saints Renwick
                     St Nicholas Lazonby
                     Langwathby Methodist Church
Frizington St Johns
Gilsland Methodist Church
Grange Methodist Church
                     St Pauls
Greystoke St Andrews
Heversham St Peters
High Hesket St Marys
Houghton with Kingsmoor
Skelton St Michaels
Kendal Parish Church
            Holy Trinity & St George
            Sandylands Methodist Church
            St Thomas’
            URC
            Salvation Army
            Quaker Meeting
Keswick Crosthwaite Parish Church
             Methodist Church
             St Johns
Kirkby in Furness Methodist Church
Kirkby Stephen Upper Eden Baptist Church
Kirkby Stephen, Appleby and Tebay Methodist Circuit
Lamplugh, Kirkland & Ennerdale LEP
Leith/Lyvennet Parishes
Levens Methodist Church
           Parish Church
Longtown Methodist Church
Low Furness Churches
Lune Parishes
Maryport Our Lady & St Patrick
Millom Baptist Church
           Methodist Church
Milnthorpe St Thomas
Mirehouse St Andrews
Moresby St Bridgets
Natland, Old Hutton, New Hutton
Penrith Christ Church
             Methodist Church
             Quaker Meeting
             St Andrews
             St Catherines
             Salvation Army
             URC
Ravenstonedale St Oswalds
Scotby, Cotehill & Cumwhitton
Sedburgh Parish Church
Silverdale St Johns
Solway Methodist Circuit
South Lakes Methodist Circuit
Stanix St Michaels
Stavely, Ings & kentmere
Two Valleys Team
Ulverston Methodist Church
                Parish Church
Walney St Marys
Whitehaven Methodist Circuit
                    Parish Church
                    URC
                    Woodbank Community Church
Wigton Methodist Circuit
Windermere Carver Uniting Church
                     Methodist Church
                     St Marys
                     Quaker Meeting
Workington Christ the Good Shepherd
                    United Church
                    St Johns
Wreay St Marys