TAVISTOCK Memory Café is one of 55 across Devon to have benefited from a generous grant.

The café, based at The Anchorage Centre next to Tavistock Bus Station, received the grant from the Provincial Grand Chapter of the HRA of Devonshire, giving people with dementia and their carers ‘moments to remember’.

It offers practical and emotional support, information, guidance and the hand of friendship to people living with dementia and their carers in the Tavistock and West Devon area.

For many, a visit to the Memory Café is the only regular support they receive following a diagnosis. The social contact and peer support gained from spending time with others who have experience of the difficult every day reality of dementia, is invaluable.

Heather Rayne of Tavistock Memory Café said: ‘We are very grateful to the Provincial Grand Chapter of Devonshire for their generous support. We planned to use their grant for a picnic in the Tavistock Sensory Garden, but unfortunately the great British weather turned against us, so it had to be held in the Anchorage Centre. However, spirits weren’t dampened and everyone had a great time playing games and enjoying the lovely food.’

Simon Rowe, the grand superintendent of the Provincial Grand Chapter of Devonshire, said: ‘Memory Cafes, the majority of which are run solely by volunteers, make a personal difference to the lives of people affected by dementia — and this is a cause very close to the hearts of freemasons.

‘We were delighted to be able to contribute in such a way to the work of Memory Cafes across Devon and are grateful to Devon Memory Cafe Consortium for distributing these funds in order to reach as many people affected by dementia as possible.’