Dementiacafe
The cafe is held within Bothwell Parish Church Centre and is open to all who experience memory loss. It meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month from 1pm till 2.30pm. There is no charge.
Bothwell Dementia Cafe is staffed by volunteers trained by Alzheimer’s Scotland. It also has support from South Lanarkshire Council Social Services.
It specialises as a recognised hub for the charity Playlist For Life, founded by the BBC television presenter Sally Magnusson. A free concert to mark the achievements of community group Uddingston Pride will feature an award-winning big band.
The Michael Brawley Big Band appear at Park Church in the village on the evening of Tuesday, January 15, for the special event.
Uddingston Pride have particular reason to celebrate, as chairperson Liz Wilson has just been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community.
And the group itself, which was set up at the Millennium, is proud to be going into its 19th year.
Liz said: “We’re welcoming the band.
“This has been a plan of ours for a while and we are delighted that everything has come together.
“We’re looking forward to a fantastic night.”
The 22-strong group are stalwarts of the National Concert Band Festival. They were formed in 1995 by Hamilton musician Michael Brawley.
They perform solely to raise money for well-meaning and worthy causes and have donated more than £50,000 to charity over the years.
Spokesman Gary Mitchell, who plays trumpet in the band, said: “Our set will feature big band classics and also funk and soul hits.
“We produce a huge sound. There is nothing to beat live music.”
The musicians will perform 7.30pm.
The event is free but Uddingston Pride will gladly accept donations at the door. Tea will be provided by the church after the concert.
Liz, who has been chairperson for 15 thrilled to be from years, said: “We hope the community of Uddingston will be able to join us for this special night.
“Their support of Uddingston Pride is greatly appreciated and we wanted to do something to acknowledge that.”
The community group work tirelessly to improve the appearance of Uddingston by decorating streets with floral displays, and by maintaining a tidy and litter-free environment.
They also act as a focus group to improve the experience of those who live locally, giving them a sense of pride in Uddingston.
The volunteers have received numerous awards from Keep Scotland Beautiful and the Royal Horticultural Society for their efforts.