Every Wednesday
between 11am and 1pm at:
Every Friday
between 1pm and 3pm at:
Guiseley Football & Cricket Club, Otley Road, Guiseley LS20 8BT
Bradford Memories Cafe is a dementia friendly group that meet weekly to laugh, entertain, educate and support its members who either live with Dementia (at any stage of the disease) and for the carers of the loved ones, friends or colleagues of those individuals living with Dementia and/or associated illnesses.
Unfortunately, when you or a loved one is diagnosed with Dementia it can be a daunting prospect as to what happens next and to be honest, everyone’s story is different. Over many years of lived experience, expertise and research we believe we are just one of many groups and societies out there that can make this life changing disease that little beat easier to live with.
We are called Bradford Memories because we believe in the common power of reminiscing about things from yesteryear and for this particular group these memories are associated with living in, growing up or working in Bradford and surrounding areas. We try and have a theme a week ranging from ‘School life’ to ‘Food and drink of yesteryear’, ‘Growing up in Bradford’ or ‘Summer holidays’. We don’t expect everyone to contribute but we do expect everyone to laugh in all the right places!
We share a common goal. To raise awareness of the disease but also to raise awareness of the group to ensure that anyone in the Bradford or wider district that needs support, a distraction, some respite or simply a friendly face, cup of tea and cake can receive it and know that they do not need to face the challenges they face alone.
From a standing start in 2018 we have grown to over 40 regular attendees and in association with Sporting Memories foundation we have both a regular format for our meetings and registered volunteer programme to ensure good practice.
Every Wednesday from 11am to 1pm at Napoleons Casino in Bradford.
AND NOW... Every Friday from 1pm to 3pm at Guiseley Football & Cricket Club.
There is free parking on site and there are no costs to any of our activities or meetings.
Each week we start with a song, ‘Sweet Caroline’ before some gentle physical activity that ranges from stretching in your seat to playing carpet bowls, ‘pass the ball’, skittles as well as regular quizzes and even a game of Bingo. We break for light refreshments including teas, coffees, sandwiches and sweet treats.
Our success has been based on our ‘Guest speaker’ section whereby each week we invite someone to entertain the group with anecdotes from their career. Guests have included professional sports men and women, TV presenters, journalists, actors and former police officers.
We appreciate that Dementia is progressive disease and that people living with the disease will experience and display different behavioural habits at each and every stage. Some of our members come with their spouse, partner, son, daughter, parent, friends or colleagues. For carers, we have trained volunteers that can occupy your loved one whilst you may want to switch off for a period of time, chat and / or just rela exist for no other reason that to offer support and share lived and learned experiences to hopefully making living with Dementia that little bit easier for a few hours a week.
Whilst not compulsory, we do believe in having fun and the best way we have found to do this is to sing and dance. Some of our members just like to sing from their chairs and others like to just waive their hands. It really doesn’t matter but sometimes couples may want to waltz or jive or disco. The point is, anything goes and that’s the way it should be and will remain!
Pre Covid we consistently met every week and even arranged day trips to fish and chip restaurants, parks and lunches. We hope to bring such trips back and without failure we will be having a Christmas party and fundraising dinner later this year.
We meet every Wednesday between 11am and 1pm at 37 Bolton Rd, Bradford BD1 4DR Tel 01274 391820 and Every Friday between 1pm and 3pm at Guiseley Cricket and Football Club, Otley Road Guiseley LS20 8BT
Email BradfordMemoriesCafe@gmail.com