PERSHORE Abbey has been working hard over the past few months to become a more dementia and neuro-diverse friendly environment.
This is part of a town scheme to support those living with the conditions or caring for loved ones and has included more than 40 Abbey community volunteers training to become ‘Dementia Friends’.
Part of the scheme has included the recognisable Forget-me-not symbols and yellow signage in places, such as the Abbey’s toilet to help those who may panic if they get confused by their surroundings.
Within the next few weeks, the quiet area in the South Transept will be installed with cushions, blankets, helpful literature and noise blocking headphones.
The Craft and Chat groups who meet in St Andrew’s Parish Centre have made special boxes as well as a range of Fiddle Muffs which help relieve restlessness and anxiety.
Each box is themed such as ‘Worship’ ‘Holidays’ and ‘Hobbies’ and contain items to help people start a conversation or evoke memories.
Canon Claire Lording, Vicar of the Pershore Benefice, said she was proud of the immense efforts of volunteers across the district to help this cause.
“Everybody has been absolutely amazing with their embracing of this scheme, dedicating hours of their time to undergo special training to help support those in our community living with Dementia or other neuro-diverse conditions.”
A series of events have been held, including the Pershore Dementia-friendly festival in mid-May where the Abbey floodlights were turned blue to help raise awareness. The Abbey also hosted a dementia-friendly concert as part of the Elgar Festival which was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.
Canon Lording added: “We are enormously grateful to our crafters, our volunteers and local organisations who have helped us so much to be able to make the Abbey a welcoming place for all and very much look forward to the completion of the quiet aea very soon.”
