Hello

In this month’s newsletter…

1. Autumn highlights

2. Placement Reflections from Carly

3. Our 2024-25 Impact Report

4. Our new service film!

5. Our Christmas Raffle!

6. What we’ve been reading, watching and listening to

Welcome Message from your Volunteer Co-ordinator, Mary:

Hello lovely volunteers,

Once again, I am in complete disbelief that it’s November already.

I think that no matter how many laps around the sun we have under our belt - the transition from late summer to autumn takes us by surprise each year. We often keep ourselves so busy, with our heads down, focusing on the days and weeks stretching out ahead of us - on our deadlines, on half term, on the Christmas break somewhere on the horizon…and then, on those occasions where we remember to look up and around, we find the seasons, the leaves and the clocks changed. Suddenly, we’ve flown past our harvest and Halloween celebrations at groups, and we’re already planning Christmas parties for our carers and members. Against our will we are once again being nudged into the beginnings of winter.

Winter can be a harder time of year for lots of reasons - less sunlight disrupts our circadian rhythm and can affect the production of hormones linking to mood, appetite and sleep. Shorter days tend to make us less motivated and more fatigued, and longer nights and bad weather often make us more socially isolated as we’d rather stay in during the evenings. All this to say, there’s scientific evidence that winter is harder for our brains and bodies - so you’re not on your own if you’re tentatively dreading the darker months.

However, winter brings with it the opportunity for a change of pace. I always think there is so much to learn from the ways in which the natural world is beginning to slow in preparation for the months ahead. We simply aren’t designed to be as productive in winter as we are in summer. Winter is a time for small things. Don your waterproofs and get outside when and where you can - even if it’s wet, fresh air is the best thing for your brain - if only to enjoy the feeling of returning to the warm and dry. Savour the winter sunshine when it appears. Stamp on the crunchy leaves. Embrace soup season. Invite friends for tea. Catch up on the books you were gifted for Christmas last year that you’ve been meaning to make time for. Continue to volunteer your time and energy each week, and let the warm glow of being part of a wider community carry you through until spring.

TL;DR? Slow down, and take care of your precious selves this winter. Read on to find out what we’ve been up to over the past few months, and what’s going on here at TDS.

Get in touch:

📞 0161 226 7186
📧 [email protected]

🍂Our Autumn Highlights:

• Home, Hearts & Connection Art Project
  The East Manchester Group have recently taken part in a 4 week screen printing project with a local artist, exploring what home means to them.
  

• Volunteers Pizza & Quiz Night
  We had a lovely evening of food and fun at our volunteers social in September - lots of Dominoes pizza, and varying levels of general knowledge!

• The Together Trail
  Our brand new sponsored walk, held in Wythenshawe Park in September, raised over £6,300!

Reflections from my Occupational Therapy Placement - Carly Everall

Carly has been on an 8 week placement with us here at Together Dementia Support, as part of her Occupational Therapy training. For those of you that haven’t had the joy of meeting her at groups, we asked her to share her reflections on her time with us:

The main goal of my placement is to bring the principles of Occupational Therapy (OT) to our activities. OT is all about enabling people to engage in the everyday activities that give life meaning and purpose. By doing this, we can help build confidence and a sense of identity.

Here's a look at some of the things I’ve been working on at groups, together with staff and volunteers::

• A better welcome: To help members feel more settled upon arrival, I've introduced orientation boards and simple name games. We also have a table set up with lanyards so members can find their own and put it on. This encourages independence and promotes a smoother transition into the group.

• Meaningful activity: At North Manchester, we have been tasking members with the preparation of snacks and setting the tables for lunch. By enabling members to participate and contribute, we are supporting their sense of purpose and identity.

•  Empowering volunteers: Instead of doing things for our members, I am encouraging you wonderful volunteers to focus on facilitating their independence. This shift helps members maintain their skills and autonomy.

•  Encouraging engagement: Through simple, repeated tasks, we are strengthening memory and decision-making skills. We are also working on problem-solving and initiation in a supportive way, helping members to build on their individual strengths and feel a sense of achievement.

• Checking in: We've been using a feedback tool at the start and end of sessions to better understand how members are feeling. This helps us ensure that our activities are having a positive impact.

Given the short time I am here I may not have time with all of you but hope that you will see the benefit of the changes and continue to enjoy time with our lovely members! - Carly

Our 2024-25 Impact Report

In September, we were proud to share our brand new Impact Report, marking 10 wonderful years of supporting people living with dementia in Manchester to live well.

Here’s our 2024-25 at a glance:

⭐ 935 people supported (422 living with dementia, 513 carers)
⭐ 2,500+ group attendances across 6 weekly and 2 monthly group
⭐ 80+ people using our transport service weekly
⭐ 1,100+ volunteer attendances
⭐ 3 major fundraising events raising over £100,000
⭐ £588K secured in grants – including a new multi-year Lottery award
⭐ Culturally tailored care provided via our Pyaari Yaadein and Together At Home services

Outcomes that matter:
👉 80% of people with dementia maintained or improved their well-being
👉 82% of carers increased their confidence
👉 91% of carers rated our support 5/5

It goes without saying that we couldn’t have achieved any of that without you - our incredible volunteering community. This is the real life impact that your time, energy, and generosity is making. THANK YOU.

🎬 Our new TDS film:

We recently commissioned a brand new short film, as a way of trying to capture the impact of our services on our members.

The video features our lovely Wythenshawe Group, and our Together at Hone service - you might be able to spot yourself!

Give it a watch below, and please share with your friends and family!

🎄Christmas Raffle: Can you help?

We’re looking ahead to Christmas already! Over the festive season, we’ll be running a festive raffle to raise money, and we’re on the look out for small prize donations. These could be:

🎁 Vouchers!
🎁 Gifts!
🎁 Experiences!

Do you have anything you could donate? Or do you have links with any local businesses - shops, cafes, restaurants - that you could ask to support us?

To donate a prize or find out more, get in touch with Imogen, our Fundraising Manager:

📞 0161 226 7186
📧 [email protected]

What we’ve been Reading, Watching and Listening to:

• Our CEO, Sally, shares her thoughts on Riot Women (BBC) - a powerful drama highlighting the struggles of midlife women juggling caregiving, work, and family. It’s a moving reflection of the real experiences faced by many families we support.

  Click here to read Sally’s article