People with dementia, their carers and family members will be able to get together to chat, exercise and play games at the Pinetrees Dementia café next week for just the second time in 17 months

The Covid-19 pandemic saw the fortnightly café hosted at the Pinetrees Community Centre in Pinehurst closed since the start of lockdown in March last year - apart from one session in September, so next Wednesday's event is still the first in nearly a year.

And co-ordinator Steph Newton couldn’t be happier. She said: “I’m ridiculously excited that we’re opening next week, it will be lovely to see the people who used to come regularly and hopefully see new people as well.”

The café allows people with dementia and their carers to meet, play games and chat and is vital lifeline for both against isolation and loneliness.

As well as tea and coffee and cakes and biscuits the café lays on activities for visitors such as gentle bingo, or movement to music.

Steph said: “The movement is great because it gives the people with dementia a bit more exercise, and their career or family member can join in, and they can do it at home then. They can say: 'Do you remember, we did it at the café', and get the person to be a little more active.”

There’s also a device called a magic table, specially designed for people with dementia.

Images can be projected on the surface of the table, but sensors react to the movement of hands, so people can kick a ball about in a game of hand football or turn stars into shooting stars just by touching them.

Steph added: “ Our craft table is always brimming with lots of colourful ribbon, pom poms and markers. Our clients created some wonderful bunting for us in 2019 and we cannot wait to put it up again for our café on the 25th.

“Someone with dementia might not remember things, they might forget what day of the week it is and ask again five minutes later. But dementia doesn’t take away feelings, if someone with dementia feels joy or happiness or even peaceful contentment then they still feel that, and remember feeling that even if they’ve forgotten why.

“That’s what we’re trying to do at the café, give the people who come that moment of joy, so they remember that feeling even after they’ve gone away.”

Borough ward councillor Carol Shelley is the chairman of the community group set up to support and manage the café. She said: “It’s been a great facility and lifeline for carers and those living with dementia. I hope many will be able to come back in the coming months. In the mean time we need to get the message out to everyone that we are open for business.”

The café will open from 1.30 to 3.30pm on Wednesday and then every fortnight. Ring 01793 466 499 to book.