North Devon knitters taking on Dementia UK’s knitting challenge

A North Devon memory cafe has taken on Dementia UK’s November Knitting Challenge in a bid to raise much-needed funds for the charity.

The Home Instead Barnstaple Memory Café set up a ‘knit and natter’ table at its free twice-monthly café sessions at Barnstaple Library, to encourage its members with dementia and their carers, to regain old knitting skills or learn new ones, to make a beautiful lap blanket to auction off for charity.

The project has helped strengthen community relations, giving people, particularly older members of the community, a place to meet others and share their love of a hobby.

The memory café is run by local home care company, Home Instead North Devon, which supports older people in their own homes, including those living with dementia.

The chance for people with dementia to come to ‘knit and natter’ and work together on a joint project has helped enormously with managing their condition and proves that they can live well with dementia and continue to contribute to society.

It also gives their family carers the chance to socialise and make friends with those in a similar position.

Adam Crispin, owner of Home Instead North Devon, said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the success of our members Knit and Natter table. It has given them a sense of purpose and while some have knitted, others have joined the table just to chat and put the world right!”

The first of the lap blankets will be auctioned today (Friday, December 1) at the Home Instead Memory Café Christmas Party, followed by singing by the children from Our Lady’s Roman Catholic Primary School, games and a raffle and a ‘bring and share’ buffet.

Some of the children and teachers from Pathfield School will be joining in the festivities as a thank you for the delicious cakes they bake and serve at the café during the term time. 

Home Instead Barnstaple Memory Café provides a happy and safe environment for people with dementia and their families and carers to come, make friends and have fun.

It is free, meets on the first and third Fridays from 10.30am to 12.30pm in Barnstaple Library and is provided by Home Instead North Devon.

Those who want to donate to the November Knitting Challenge can do so HERE.

For more information on the Home Instead Barnstaple Memory Café, and its support for people living with dementia and their carers, contact Anne on 07949 397330 OR EMAIL anne.mckiernan@homeinsteadnorthdevon.co.uk.

For information on Home Instead North Devon or to learn more about its care services, please call 01769 302003 or visit www.homeinstead.co.uk/north-devon-exmoor