Reflecting on our services supporting those living with dementia, we are delighted to share some achievements over the past five years. The vision crafted by our colleagues at Link Age Southwark set the foundation for our dementia services, which has been funded generously by the National Lottery. Throughout these last five years, our focus has remained on creating meaningful experiences for our service users.

From captivating events with partners like the Old Vic Theatre, to the innovative programmes orchestrated by the Dot Collective, a charity that provide professional accessible theatre to help reduce isolation. Our service users were delighted to see some of their stories reflected back to them in the form of a play, one saying ‘it was quite an experience to meet a younger version of myself with a fantastic actress playing me!’

We’ve hosted enriching sessions at Dulwich Picture Gallery, where service users explored seascapes, one of which elicited long-lost memories from a service user who had served in the Merchant Navy as a youngster. Our dementia groups achieve at least three of the five psychological needs of people with dementia, as outlined by Tom Kitwood in his model of person-centred dementia care.

Our aim is to infuse joy, connection and compassion into the lives of those we support. "I just love the care and the variety of activities you come up with – I had never imagined that Link Age Southwark would be so wonderful and supportive. It is the highlight of my week." The feedback from these sessions captures some of the richness of our work.

Beyond our activities our impact extends to the training developed for our befrienders, particularly the specialised care delivered by our Additional Support Service and the invaluable support provided by our Information and Support Team all of which contributed to enhancing the quality of life for our service users.

As we reflect on the past five years, we do so with immense pride and gratitude. Our work is a testament to the power of collective effort and commitment to making a difference in the lives of those affected by dementia. Here's to celebrating our successes and embracing what lies ahead with the same passion and determination. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey so far.