TWO’S COMPANY
MEMBERS of a very special Inverclyde cafe have celebrated two years of supporting people in the community who are affected by dementia.
Folk gathered at Old Gourock and Ashton Church to mark the milestone second birthday of the venue’s ‘dementia cafe’ with a tea dance and buffet.
Organisers say it was an emotional but happy day...and they also welcomed back an original member.
Gillian McCallion, who founded the cafe with Phyllis Gaitens, said: “It was great. It was quite emotional. We were thinking of all the people who weren’t there. My mum was there when the group started.”
Gillian was inspired to launch the cafe so she would have somewhere safe to bring her mum, Iris Dobie, who sadly passed away in 2022.
She said: “We didn’t have anywhere to go. So many people are in the same position as I was and need a place where they feel safe and supported and comfortable.
“One person said it was so nice to come here and feel safe and happy.”
Two years on, the group is going from strength to strength, and is helping so many other people in the community and their families and carers.
Gillian said: “We thought maybe we don’t want to do something too energetic, but lots of people commented how much they missed dancing.
“That generation were the best dancers. A retired member of the congregation came along to lead the dance and I think she enjoyed it too.
“We were also delighted to welcome back one of the original members, who now lives in a nursing home.”
Gillian says that everyone who uses the cafe remarks on the warm and friendly atmosphere.
She said: “This comes from the members who come along and the lovely volunteers who serve up the tea and coffee.”
She says that she and Phyllis take the cafe year by year, and organise one programme of events running from August to December, and another from January through to the summer.
“We have armchair keep fit for next week,” she said. “We always have different activities on the go.
“I think this encourages people to become pro-active. It’s got to be fun and light to come to.”
On the list of activities are a Halloween party, a visit by the Clydeside Singers, autumn crafts, and in December a shortened version of a panto by the Parish Players, as well as festive crafts and a Christmas party.
If anyone would like to take a loved one along, they can pop in to the church hall on Friday afternoons between 2pm and 3.30pm.
People must be accompanied by a carer.