Royal Voluntary Service
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How we help

Dementia, for those who live with it and for the people who care about them, can be a lonely and frightening illness. It can also cause issues with confidence, preventing people from continuing to do the things they enjoy. At Royal Voluntary Service, we provide activity and support groups for people who are concerned about their memory, living with mild-moderate dementia and their carers, family and friends of those living with dementia.

Our groups help people to create support networks, by meeting people going through similar situations whilst taking part in a wide range of activities, from chair-based exercise, craft work to trips out in the local community. All groups are designed with our group members to help make it what you want it to be.

We currently operate over 60 groups, across 12 different locations; Dundee, Scottish Borders, Northumberland, Doncaster, Leeds, Kirklees, Staffordshire, Birmingham Leicestershire, Oxfordshire, West Sussex, South East Wales.

Find out about support services in your area

Dementia groups

We have three types of dementia groups which can vary by area: 

Living Well with Dementia 

A three-to-four-hour activity group for people living with dementia, lunch provided (charge may be applicable). Carers, family and friends are also welcome to attend. 

Remember Me Café 

A weekly two-hour activity and support group for people living with dementia and their carers, family and friends. 

Memory Lane (Cognitive Stimulation Therapy) 

A group for people living with dementia, designed to stimulate memory and recall through a regular programme of varied activities. A carers, family and friends group may also be available (location dependent).

Royal Voluntary Service volunteer helping a woman go for a walk

Dementia-friendly activity packs

Every month Royal Voluntary Service produce a dementia-friendly activity pack which are designed to offer a stimulation for people living with dementia (and anyone else who may be interested) through a variety of activity types.

These packs are filled with exercises, puzzles and images aim to keep people stimulated at home in between visits to our groups.

 

See our dementia-friendly activity packs

Dementia-friendly activity sessions

Our Virtual Village Hall is an online activity hub and community, designed to help people stay physically and mentally active, connected and having fun.

Open to all, our sessions can be joined live every week or at any time from our library of sessions.

Visit the Virtual Village Hall to see our programme of sessions designed to support people living with and affected by dementia.  Sessions include:

  • Pilates
  • Ballet
  • Caring for someone with dementia
  • Mindful mobility Pilates
  • Guided relaxation
  • And more...
Visit the Virtual Village Hall
An older lady knitting in a group session

It's very clear that mum is comfortable, happy and relaxed in this environment.

Ian, who attends one of our groups in Northumberland. He adds: "It's meant that I could relax."

Read Ian & Anne's story

The difference we make

To enable us to best support people affected by dementia, we regularly take feedback from those who attend our groups. See the results in our latest annual feedback survey.

Find out more

It’s good to talk to other carers because otherwise, you might not speak to anyone who quite understands.

Jo, Mark's partner & carer

Read Jo & Mark's story

It helps my mind... the group helps me to use my brain, it gets me thinking rather than just sitting around and letting it get worse.

Mark, dementia club attendee

Read Jo & Mark's story

Leading or helping with activities is fun and it’s lovely to see our clients laughing and getting a lot out of the sessions.

Dementia group volunteer Hayley has volunteered since April 2023. "Volunteering has changed my life in so many ways and I look forward to helping out at the group each week.”

Read Jo & Mark's story

Other ways we can help

We're here to support with a range of services to make things easier.

We support NHS Trusts and the wider integrated care system

Royal Voluntary Service works with local and national partners to provide flexible tailor-made service solutions in people's homes and in healthcare settings.

See how we can work together