There are currently around 900,000 people with dementia in the UK (Alzheimer’s Society, 2024.) It is predicted that this number will rise to 1.6million in 2040 and therefore here at Ellisons Solicitors, we are proud to be raising awareness of dementia in communities across Essex & Suffolk.
As a firm we help to support the Dementia Café ran by the Ipswich Town Foundation. The cafes are held at Ipswich Town & Bury St Edmunds Town Football clubs and are designed for those living with dementia, alongside their carers and those bereaved to come together and share life stories and their experiences. Two of our colleagues attend the Ipswich café a month to volunteer their time and to talk to attendees. At the latest Ipswich café on 1st February 2024, all attendees played bingo which led to much laughter and competitiveness!
The Woodbridge Dementia Project “WDP” is a cause supported by local care providers, businesses, and the local authority to make Woodbridge a more dementia friendly town. WDP is supporting Dementia Awareness Week (13th-19th May 2024) by holding a dementia event on Saturday 18th May 2024 from 9.30am-12pm at IP11 7BL. Our Wills, Trusts and Probate team will be at the event representing Ellisons to talk to the local community about the importance of Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and more. If you would like to find out more about WDP, please search for Woodbridge Dementia Project on Instagram.
Dementia Friends are those who have learnt about dementia so they can help their community. The initiative, run by the Alzheimer’s Society is free to join and participants receive training on dementia so that they can better understand the condition. Many of our colleagues are Dementia Friends and within the work we do in the private client department, are frequently interacting with those with dementia and their carers meaning the training is used in real life situations. If you are wondering who within the firm are Dementia Friends, look out for the Dementia Friend badge on their email footers or on their Ellisons website profiles. Find out more about the scheme here.
Our Wills, Trusts and Probate have also committed to support ‘Thingamajigs’, the Chelmsford Dementia Café for the next 12 months.
Every month those living with dementia can attend with their carers for a fun-filled afternoon with music and singing. Once the event is in full swing, the carers get to have some well-earned rest for a few hours and enjoy a chat over some cake and tea.
Sophie Clarke and Siraat Ranagri from our Private Client Team are pictured with guests enjoying putting, colouring and cake. The afternoon was rounded off with rousing renditions of Verea Lynn, Doris Day and even some Rock & Roll.
As dementia continues to affect our clients, colleagues, and the communities we engage with, raising awareness of dementia by supporting the above initiatives is what the #EllisonsWay is all about.
