Friends Fund £2386.80 for furniture in the “Secret Garden room”

A donation to the Friends from the magnificent Melodic Choir part funded the furniture when they raised £1247.20 from a wonderful concert in aid of the Friends. Their continued support of the Friends is very much appreciated, so kind. We were delighted to welcome Carol, from the choir, along to see the furniture and to hear how their donation has helped benefit patients and their families.   

Beverley Sparkes, Associate Practitioner, Acute Dementia Team let us know:

“We are very grateful for the kind and generous donation from “the Friends” and on behalf of our patients living with a dementia – we thank you for making the difference to their day.”

Since the reintroduction of the donated furniture to the “Secret Garden,” we, the Associate Practitioners (APs) from the Acute Dementia Team, have taken a variety of patients into the area to enjoy some time away from the ward. 

We have used this area for a variety of reasons, some examples are:

• A chap needing space to sit with his devoted family, away from the noisy ward (and also with the extra seating) so that they could have some private family time.

• A lady who was on a ward who wanted to have a space to come and speak about her dementia diagnosis.  Both APs sat with her and she was delighted to be able to have some private comfortable space to speak.

• We have taken a couple of gents in to have some quiet time, to do some colouring and have tea and cake and another gent, who liked to eat up at a table and so this was possibly in the secret garden.

This is a space which is able to be adapted well, to accommodate the needs of our patients.  The quiet, calm atmosphere is much at contrast to the busy ward environment, and we use this to help people be able to access a quiet space if being overwhelmed and overstimulated.

The beautiful sofa and four chairs around the table have enabled us to be able to offer this much needed space to our patients.

Pictured left to right: Carol Elliott, Member of the Melodic Choir, Charlotte Woodford, Acute Dementia Team. Carol Wootton (Volunteer and Director) and Beryl Rowan (Director) of the Friends