There are many great initiatives and activity groups in Essex for people with dementia, helping to ensure that they can keep their minds and bodies active and remain social. Dementia-friendly groups and events help to make sure that life with dementia can still be fun and active, with as little stress as possible.
This page will guide you through the local initiatives that are running and who to contact to get involved.
You may also be interested in reading our downloadable Age Space Guide to Dementia, which includes many practical tips on managing life with dementia.
- Dementia Cafés in Essex
- Dementia-Friendly Church Services in Essex
- Dementia-Friendly Shopping in Essex
- Dementia-Friendly Exercise Groups in Essex
- Dementia-Friendly Music Groups in Essex
- Dementia-Friendly Library Service in Essex
- Dementia-Friendly Cinema in Essex
- Dementia Action Alliance Groups in Essex
Dementia Cafés in Essex
Dementia Cafés, sometimes known as Memory Cafés, are a great opportunity for the those with dementia and their carers to socialise and share experiences with people in a similar situation. Some cafés also have health professionals who you can seek advice and information from.
There are Dementia Cafés throughout Essex that are run by different groups.
Rotary Loughton Memory Café, Loughton
The Rotary Memory Cafe in Loughton provides an informal, social venue for people to get advice and support on struggling with memory loss. Those with dementia and their carers can enjoy refreshments, quizzes, music and most importantly, the chance to talk.
Visit their website or get in touch for more details on their opening times.
- Where: The Loughton Club, 8 Station Road, Loughton, IG10 4NX
- Telephone: 02208 281 1811
- Visit Website
Brentwood Care Centre Dementia Café, Brentwood
The Brentwood Care Centre Dementia cafe is a group for individuals who have loved ones living with dementia. There is information provided on living with dementia and regular guest speakers who have dementia-based services or products available.
- Where: Brentwood Care Centre, Larchwood Gardens, Pilgrims Hatch, Brentwood, CM15 9NG
- Telephone: 01277 284413
- Visit Website
Blue Flower Support, Hutton
The Blue Flower Cafe meets monthly in Hutton, providing support for people living with dementia and their families by sharing experiences and advice over hot drinks and refreshments.
- When: First Monday of the month, 10.30am to 12:00pm
- Where: Hutton Community Centre, Harrison Close, Hutton, Brentwood, CM13 1LP
- Telephone: 01277 216617
- Visit Website
Forget Me Not Dementia Café, Saffron Walden
The Saffron Walden-based Forget Me Not Dementia Café gets together once per week to offer companionship, support, advice and a cup of tea to those suffering from dementia and their carers.
- When: Every Wednesday, 10:00am - 12:00pm
- Where: Fairycroft House, Audley Road, Saffron Walden, CB11 3HD
- Telephone: 07900 123917
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Dunmow Dementia Café
The Dunmow Dementia Cafe is a social support group for people with dementia and their carers to enjoy a tea or coffee whilst having a chat with others going through a similar experience. There is the opportunity for support and advice as well as guest speakers and reminiscence.
- When: Every Monday, 10:30am - 12:00pm (excluding bank holidays)
- Where: Rowena Davey Centre, Chequers Lane, Great Dunmow, Dunmow, CM6 1EQ
- Email: [email protected]
Manningtree Dementia Café
Manningtree Dementia Cafe offers refreshments and friendly support for people affected by dementia and their carers. They endeavour to ensure that health professionals are available to attend the cafés each month.- Where: Manningtree Dementia Cafe, Foundry Court, Colchester Road, Lawford, Manningtree
- Telephone: 01255 870955
- Visit Website
Dengie D-Caf, Maldon
The Dengie D-Caf provides support for people with dementia and their carers on the Dengie Peninsula. You can visit their website for an up to date look at their upcoming meetings and events.
- When: Second Wednesday of every month, 11.00am - 13.00pm
- Where: All Saints Church Hall, Creeksea church, Ferry Road, Burnham on Crouch, Essex, CM0 8PQ
- Visit Website
Forget-Me-Not Memory Café, Billericay
The Forget-Me-Not Memory Café in Billericay offers advice, support and information to those with dementia and their carers. This is provided in a social and welcoming environment alongside activities, such as arts and crafts, singing, music, seated exercises, games, puzzles and quizzes.
- Where: Mayflower Hall, Chapel Street, Billericay, CM12 9LR
- Telephone: 07595 893843
- Email: [email protected]
Peaceful Place, Basildon
Service: A day centre for individuals diagnosed with dementia, early onset and older people.
When: Monday to Friday, 8.30am-3.15pm
Where: Peaceful Place, 261 Timberlog Lane, Basildon SS14 1PA
Cost: please call for details
Contact: Charlotte Curran (CEO) 07860 610767, website: peacefulplace.co.uk
Peaceful Place is all about living your best life with dementia – staying active, having fun, making friends and continuing to do the things you enjoy.
We offer transport to and from Peaceful Place (depending on locality), a cooked breakfast and freshly prepared lunch, and a fantastic programme of activities throughout the week.
Our activities include music therapy, swimming, gym sessions, walking football, boxing, golf, bowling, boccia, art, gardening, dancing, quizzes, games and community outings – plus our hugely popular Friday Mystery Tours!
Every day is different, with plenty of laughter, friendship, activity and opportunities to try something new.
Dementia-Friendly Church Services in Essex
Dementia-friendly Church Services differ from regular services by having a shorter formal service and often activities such as arts and crafts afterwards. These relaxed services allow people with dementia to maintain their religion in a suitable environment.
The churches listed below all run dementia-friendly services.
Wesley Methodist Church, Leigh-on-Sea
- When: Third Monday of the month, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Where: Elm Road, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, SS9 1SJ
- Telephone: 01702 483827
- Visit Website
Thorpe Bay Methodist Church, Thorpe Bay
- When: First Monday of the month, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Where: Thorpe Bay Methodist Church, The Broadway, Thorpe Bay, SS1 3HQ
- Telephone: 01702 589263
- Visit Website
Dementia-Friendly Shopping in Essex
East of England Co-op
The East of England Co-op is the biggest independent retailer in the East of England and has taken some steps in recent years to become more dementia-friendly for their shoppers. This has included a day event where staff wore body suits and special goggles that stiffen joints and impair vision, before being asked to attempt a daily shop – the idea being to put their staff “in the shoes” of their elderly guests.
You can use this helpful tool on the East of England Co-op website to Find Your Nearest Store.
Dementia-Friendly Exercise Groups
Keeping Active Groups: Dunmow, Harlow & Epping
Run by Action for Family Carers, Keeping Active Groups are designed to help people engage in a wide range of physical activities while having fun and socialising. This includes seated exercise, indoor bowling, music and dance, as well as a range of team games. If you want to find out more about the Keeping Active Groups you can contact Action for Family Carers on 0300 770 80 90 or visit their website.
Dunmow Group
- When: Mondays, 10.00am - 12.30pm
- Where: Dourdan Pavilion, The Causeway, CM6 2AA
Harlow Group
- When: Wednesdays, 10.00am - 12.30pm
- Where: St Andrew’s Church, The Stow, CM20 3AF
Epping Group
- When: Thursdays, 10.00am - 12.30pm
- Where: Jack Silley Pavillion, Epping, CM16 6SS
Dementia Friendly Swimming - Basildon, Canvey Island and Witham
Sport for Confidence work to provide sensory friendly and therapeutic swimming sessions that are suitable for those with dementia. Individuals with dementia can attend the leisure centres at their quietest times and are welcome to bring family, carers or friends into the pool with them. There is always assistance on hand, if required.
Basildon
- When: Mondays, 15.00pm – 15.45pm
- Where: Basildon Sporting Village, Cranes Farm Rd, Basildon, SS14 3GR
- Telephone: 07809 142805
- Visit Website
Canvey Island
- When: Wednesday from 13:15pm - 14.00pm
- Where: Waterside Farm Leisure Centre, Somnes Avenue, Canvey Island, SS8 9RA
- Telephone: 07719 557859
- Visit Website
Witham
- When: Tuesdays, 14:15pm – 15.00pm
- Where: Witham Leisure Centre, Spinks Lane, CM8 1EP
- Telephone: 07953 555714
- Visit Website
Dementia-Friendly Walks
Walking is another great and easy way for people with dementia to exercise. Essex Fire and Rescue Service run some dementia-friendly walk-and-talk groups in Halstead, Braintree and Witham.
Halstead
- Where: Begins at Halstead Fire Station
- When: First Monday of every month
Braintree
- Where: Begins at Braintree Town Hall
- When: First Tuesday of every month
Witham
- Where: Begins at Witham Leisure Centre
- When: First Wednesday of every month
For more information on these services, you can get in touch or visit their website using the details provided.
- Telephone: 01376 552525 (Kryshia Fuller) or 07703 381148 (Diane Pasfield)
- Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
- Visit Website
Dementia-Friendly Music Groups
Together in Sound Music Therapy
Together in Sound is an interactive music therapy group for those living with dementia and their carers, provided by Saffron Hall in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University. Together in Sound Music Therapy groups aim to bring the power of music to those living with dementia. You can apply to join one of their 10-week courses from the Saffron Hall website.
- Telephone: 01799 588545
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Dementia-Friendly Library Service in Essex
Essex Libraries offer a Memory Support Card for people with dementia, that has no fees on books that are returned late. If your relative with dementia struggles to visit the library themselves, they also offer a Friends and Family Card, meaning you or someone else close to your relative can take out books from the library in their name for them.
Dementia-Friendly Cinema in Essex
Dementia-Friendly Cinema in Essex
Empire Theatre, Halstead
The Empire Theatre in Halstead regularly runs a dementia-friendly cinema screening. Entry to the screenings is free entry, and there is also free tea, coffee, biscuits and cake. Visit their website for more information on upcoming screenings.
Beautiful Mind Cinema Club, Thurrock
Thurrock Council put on dementia-friendly cinema screenings at the Thameside Theatre in Grays. Additional entertainment and refreshments are included before the film in the price of the ticket.
Dementia Action Alliances in Essex
Dementia Action Alliances are groups that have formed in different areas of Essex to plan and take active steps in making Essex a more dementia-friendly place to live.
Below, you can find links to all of the Essex Dementia Action Alliance groups for more information about the support they are providing in Essex to make life easier for people with dementia and their carers.
- Braintree Dementia Action Alliance
- Chelmsford Dementia Action Alliance
- Colchester Dementia Action Alliance
- Epping Forest District Dementia Action Alliance
- Harlow Dementia Action Alliances
- Pan Essex Dementia Action Alliances
- Saffron Walden Dementia Action Alliance
- Southend, Rochford and Castle Point Dementia Action Alliance
- Tendring Dementia Action Alliance
