We are delighted to announce that the new Mayor of Chelmsford, Councillor Yvonne Spence, has selected ‘Our Charity’s’ dementia project as one of her ‘Charities of the Year’. Proceeds will go towards several initiatives  Day Rooms: For our elderly care wards, Baddow and Braxted, to enhance our patients’ hospital experience. This will provide a space for patients to socialise together, plus meet with their relatives and visitors.Kwick Screens: To enable the easy division of the day room areas for different purposes, helping to create a calm environment and make the area less clinical.Entertainment Equipment: Such as a record player so patients can enjoy music from a bygone era and a projector to screen classic films. This encourages patients to reminisce about their past experiences and creates a familiar environment.Serene Side Rooms: Featuring mood lighting, aromatherapy and decorated ceiling tiles to reduce over-stimulation of the senses for people with dementia.Activity Trolley: For the wards which will contain craft items such as card and wool as a tool to benefit people with dementia, providing a distraction from the ward environment. 

This is the continuation of our work to support the care of people with dementia at our hospital, following the completion of our two dementia-friendly gardens, the ‘Forget-Me-Not Garden’ and the ‘Live Well Garden’. 

Yvonne Carter, Charities Manager, said: “We are extremely grateful to the Mayor, Cllr Spence, for so very kindly choosing our dementia project as one of her charities of the year. 

“Our dementia project will benefit our patients enormously, creating a calmer, more welcoming environment which evokes positive memories.

“We are very much looking forward to working alongside the Mayor and her other charity for the year, Kids Inspire, towards her aim, ‘making better lives’ for the community of Chelmsford.”