EachStep Blackley Dementia Cafe Promotes Manchester Football Memories

People affected by dementia will have the opportunity to reconnect with treasured memories of Manchester United and Manchester City this Wednesday (October 14^th, 11am-1pm), at a special free event that is being held at a specialist dementia care service in Blackley.

Colin Bridgford, Chief Executive of Manchester FA, will be delivering a fascinating and fun session that looks back at the Manchester’s proud footballing history at this month’s Dementia Café at EachStep Blackley. He will be sharing with attendees rare and unique memorabilia from local football clubs, as well as telling fascinating anecdotes from the Manchester football scene.

The EachStep Blackley Dementia Café is a free monthly event that offers people who live with the condition, and their loved ones, a fun and informal place to share their experiences, receive expert advice and relax. It takes place on the second Wednesday of each month, from 11am-1pm, and is completely free and open to the whole community. EachStep Blackley is based at 198 Charlestown Road, Blackley.

It is well recognised that reminiscence is fundamental to promoting the wellbeing of people who live with dementia, and for many sport fans their memories of sporting events are amongst their most vivid. As well as offering an exciting and stimulating experience for people who live with dementia, this session will also offer carers the opportunity to have fun and take time out from their important roles.

Colin is taking part in the session thanks to the support of Annabel Kiernan, Director at the Centre for the Study of Football and its Communities at Manchester Metropolitan University, who has helped to arrange this football themed event.

This upcoming EachStep Dementia Café will also feature a talk from an Admiral Nurse, an expert in dementia care who helps provide practical support to people affected by dementia.

EachStep Blackley is part of the national social care charity, Community Integrated Care. It delivers specialist residential and nursing dementia care. EachStep has been recognised as a national centre of excellence, and has collected accolades at the National Dementia Awards and the National Care Awards for its high standards of care.  Community Integrated Care developed the Dementia Café in partnership with the charity Making Space.

Michelle Phillips, Manager of EachStep Blackley, says, “Football is so important to people from Manchester, so there can be few better topics for us to cover at our Dementia Cafe. We are looking forward to Colin delivering a fantastic session that will help bring back fond memories of watching Manchester United and Manchester City. This free session will be fun, interesting and accessible. We hope that lots of local people are able to join us.”

She adds, “We would like to thank Manchester FA, as well as Manchester Metropolitan University, for their fantastic support in arranging this event.”