COMMUNITY Project of the year, sponsored by Siren Craft Brew, is Active Minds.
Run by The Link, the project supports people living with dementia, and their families.
Project lead Beth, and her Active Minds team: Angie, Jo, Mary and Karen, help older borough residents who are experiencing forgetfulness, difficulty making decisions, increased anxiety and reduced ability to follow instructions.
Because people with dementia can find themselves withdrawing from friends, hobbies and friends, The Link’s Active Minds project offers quizzes, word games and discussions to help them improve their confidence, make new friends and have fun.
Beth and her volunteers run two-hour sessions over an eight week course, five times each year, for groups of 10 older people.
It means that 50 borough residents can benefit from the project annually, while their families gain valuable respite time.
Beth said: “It’s humbling seeing all the other awards tonight, and to hear about all the amazing local people, and what they’re doing.
“To be counted among them is special.
“Active Minds is a real passion project, and we do what we do for the love of it.
“Our volunteers are so dedicated, and they’ve been helping us for years.
“So it’s lovely to know that they, and the project, have been recognised, and to see it in writing because we work so quietly behind the scenes.
“As a group, I think we can now feel a little more proud of what we do, and we’ll certainly find somewhere to put the award where we can all see it.”
For information, visit: linkvisiting.org/activeminds
