Dementia group seeks new home
WICKLOW Dementia Support is in need of a new home to help them provide care and support to people with dementia and their families.
Chairwoman Liz Wall said that the group is currently operating out of the homes of committee members.
‘One lady’s room is an office, another a boardroom,’ she said. The different functions are scattered all over the place, and they are in need of a hub.
‘At its most basic, we would like an office - somewhere secure for files and paperworks, where we could meet families,’ said Liz.
‘ There are so many levels to the service of Wicklow Dementia Support - with mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, or the children of people who need to speak to someone privately.’
She said that they have been having meetings or interviews in hotels. While that is their basic need, the dream would be to have a ‘shop front’, and space with room for things such as bags of supplies for hospital.
Liz said that often, someone with dementia might end up in hospital without the basics. ‘ They might need a toothbrush and a nightdress,’ she said. The group would like space for emergency bags, if needed.
The person may not have family available or a carer might not be there, so a volunteer would then bring the care pack to the person in hospital.
Long term, they would love to have room for events. They have a music group, an art group, alz pals, the gospel choir, and other services and activities. They have been renting halls, and would still do that, but could do a lot of things on-premises if they had such a facility.
They don’t have funding for much rent, although they have been actively looking all over the county. ‘We are fundraising like mad. That pays for alz pals, training, and things like that. We do get a small grant but that is for particular projects.’
To help in their mission to find a base, contact the organisation on 089 4286928 or email wicklowds@gmail.com. Their work area is focussed from the north east of Wicklow as far as Arklow and Laragh. BT Shop for Change, Ireland’s biggest charity shop takeover in aid of the Irish Cancer Society took place last Thursday.
11 teams comprising over 120 volunteers from communications company BT channelled all of their resources and skills to stock Irish Cancer Society shops.
They provided high value items, to attract as many customers as possible through the doors on the day.
Some of the items up for grabs on the day included designer clothing, signed GAA jerseys, concert tickets, musical instruments and more.
The shops involved were Bray, Drogheeda, Limerick, Camden Street, Capel Street, Dun Laogahire, Kimmage, Phibsboro, Rathmines, Swords and Tallaght.
The BT staff had a great time working for the charity, while customers enjoyed a festive atmosphere and amazing bargains.
This was the seventh annual Shop for Change.