Dementia-Friendly Surrey: Your Guide To Local Initiatives

17,000 people over the age of 65 live with dementia in Surrey, and this number is growing. Looking after someone with dementia is difficult and can be very stressful. It is therefore vital to seek support, you should never feel alone. For more information on diagnosis and living with dementia, please download our free Age Space Dementia Guide.

Fortunately, there is a great network of dementia-friendly initiatives to help those living with dementia to integrate more into their communities. They are also there to support carers. These initiatives are run by many different groups and charities; the majority of them are free!

This article will navigate what Surrey has to offer, in terms of supporting those with dementia, and their carers. Contact details are provided so that you can get involved today.

If you are looking for care services, rather than activities, please visit our Dementia Care Services in Surrey Guide.

• Dementia-Friendly Cafes in Surrey
• Dementia-Friendly Church Services in Surrey
• Exercise Groups in Surrey for People with Dementia
• Entertainment in Surrey for People with Dementia
  • Dementia-Friendly Cinema
  • Music Groups for People with Dementia
• Dementia-Friendly Art Clubs in Surrey
  
  
  

Dementia-Friendly Cafes in Surrey

A Dementia Cafe provides a safe environment for people with dementia and their carers to relax, and meet other people. Some groups provide memory-focused activities to stimulate cognition, as well as refreshments.

D-Caf, Banstead

An evening cafe set up by dementia carers. Entertainment and mutual talks are provided in a supportive space for local people living with dementia and their families to enjoy.

Where? Banstead Centre, The Horseshoe, Bolters Lane, SM7 2BQ
When? 3rd Thursday of the month, 6pm – 8pm
Telephone: 07546 958299 (Lyn Watson)

Alzheimer Cafe, Camberley

Monthly gathering with refreshments provided, where people affected by dementia can meet others and socialise. The cafe also provides free and informative dementia related literature.

Where? St. Mary’s Church, Park Road, GU15 2SR
When? 3rd Monday of the month, 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Telephone: 01276 675266
Email: maureenhume01@gmail.com

Dementia-Friendly Cafe, Dorking

Those living with dementia and their carers are welcome to meet others for support, advice or just a chat!

Where? The Christian Centre, Dorking, RH4 1DW
When? Last Friday of the month, 10.30 am – 12.30pm
Telephone: 01306 886830

Sunflower Cafe, Farnham

The Sunflower Cafe welcomes people living with dementia and their carers. It provides a chance to relax, chat over coffee, take part in games or speak to one of the health experts on hand. A donation of £3 is suggested and there is no need to book.

Where? The Ivy Room, Farnham Conservative Club, Ivy Lane, GU9 7SB
When? Every Monday (excluding bank holidays), 10am -12pm
Telephone: 01252 783426

Sunflower Cafe, Guildford

An informal support group for people living with dementia and their carers. The cafe offers the chance to chat and activities in a welcoming environment. There is a suggested donation of £3 to cover the cost of refreshments and there is no need to book.

Where? Guildford United Reformed Church, 83 Portsmouth Road, GU2 4BS
When? Alternate Wednesdays, 10.30am onwards
Telephone: 07419 332074
Email: communityworker@guildfordurc.org.uk

Reminiscence Cafe, Leatherhead

An opportunity for carers and people with memory problems to get together and use photographs, music and activities to stimulate the sharing of memories. The group is informal and welcomes all; recalling memories is an important way of people living with dementia experiencing their sense of identity. Refreshments are provided, please get in touch with Christina for timings as they change regularly.

Where? The Fairfield Centre, 34 Swan Court, KT22 8AH
Telephone: 01372 376058
Email: christina.may@molevalley.gov.uk

DeCaf Club, Redhill

Refreshments and activities for local people with dementia and their carers. Activities change each week but include chair based exercises, inter-generational music sessions and card-making. £6 per couple, to find out more contact Julia below.

Where? Silvermere Care Home, Woodlands Road, Redhill, KT11 1EF
When? Every Friday, 10.30am – 12pm
Telephone: 01737 780610 (Julia Nye)
Email: julia.nye@mha.org.uk

Memory Cafe, Reigate

Free and friendly cafe for people with dementia and their carers. The Group is run in partnership by the care services Home Instead and The Good Care Group.

Where? Reigate Baptist Church, Sycamore Walk, RH2 7LR
When? 3rd Tuesday of the month, 10.30am – 12pm
Telephone: 01737 529793 (Greg Brown – Home Instead) or 07872 506709 (Michelle Elliot – The Good Care Group)

Dementia Cafe, Tandridge Heights

Light refreshments, activities and entertainment for those living with dementia in the local community, and their carers. All is free, just turn up.

Where? Tandridge Heights Memorial Care Home, Memorial Close, Off Barnett’s Shaw, Oxted, RH8 0NH
When? Last Friday of the month, 2.30pm – 4.30pm
Telephone: 01883 715595

Forget-Me-Not Cafe, Woking

A safe place to socialise, learn more about dementia and local services whilst enjoying tea and cake! The cafe is free.

Where? Brockhill Retirement Home, 99 Clifton Way, Woking GU21 3NE
When? 4th Wednesday of the month, 2pm – 4pm
Telephone: 01483 488 222

Dementia-Friendly Church Services in Surrey

If Church worship is a really important part of your relative’s life, living with dementia does not have to inhibit this. There are several churches across Surrey with dementia-friendly measures in place to make services accessible. Such measures include training church leaders, specially adapted services and support groups. Being a member of a church, also brings a community and can be supportive for your relative and you.

Busbridge and Hambledon Church, Goldaming

The Anglican Busbridge and Hambledon Church pride themselves on being an inclusive Christian community. One of their main aims is to specialise in support for those living with dementia and their families. The church are training leaders to involve those living with dementia in services, and there is a dementia carer support group.

Address: The Old Rectory, Old Rectory Gardens, Goldaming, GU7 1XB
Telephone: 01483 421267
Email: penny.naylor@bhcgoldaming.org
Visit Website

Church of the Good Shepherd, Pyrford

Based in Pyrford, near Woking, the Church of the Good Shepherd is a welcoming Anglican church. The church runs a dementia-friendly service (Down Memory Lane) at 2.30pm on the 4th Thursday of every month. The service is 30 minutes long and consists of well loved hymns, familiar readings and prayed, followed by tea and cake. The service is a good opportunity for those living with dementia, and their families/carers, to chat with old friends or meet new ones. Transport can also be arranged; please contact the church office below for more details.

Address: Church Of The Good Shepherd, Pyrford, Woking, GU22 8SP
Telephone: 01932 346345
Visit Website

New Life Church, Woking

The charismatic Baptist church in Woking is a member of the Dementia Action Alliance. The church has Dementia-Friendly signage and a quiet room, which can be used as a safe haven if someone leaving with dementia feels overwhelmed. The New Life Church is very actively involved in the local community and always welcomes new members.

Address: New Life Church, High Street, Old Woking, GU22 9BX
Telephone: 01483 725660
Email: theadministrator@newlifechurch.org.uk
Visit Website

St. James’ Parish Church, Weybridge

The Anglican Church in Weybridge offers a fortnightly service of hymns ​and a reading, which is especially suited for people with dementia and their carers. The church is undergoing work including installing ramps, to increase accessibility. St James is always happy to welcome new members into their community.

Address: St James’ Church, 27 Church Sreet, Weybridge, KT13 8DF
Telephone: 01932 856399
Visit Website

St Peter’s, Ash

St Peter’s Ash is part of the Ash Parish Dementia Action Alliance. The Ash Parish is an area of Surrey with a significantly ageing population. The Alliance therefore work to mitigate the risk of older people, and those with dementia becoming socially isolate within the local community. St Peter’s is contributing to this work by making services more accessible for those living with dementia, and offers a support group for carers to talk.

Address: St Peter’s Centre, Ash Church Road, Ash, GU12 6LU
Telephone: 01252331161
Email: office@saint-peters-ash.org.uk
Visit Website

Exercise Groups in Surrey for People with Dementia

Low impact exercise can be beneficial for physical and mental health, and can improve the quality of life for people in all stages of dementia. There are a variety of exercise groups on offer in Surrey. Please find a group below suitable to your elderly relative’s interests.

Patchwork Gardening Project, Dorking

The Patchworking Garden Project, first established in 2014, aims to bring change to people’s lives through gardening and friendship. The project especially welcomes those living with a learning condition; many who enjoy the group have dementia.

The group operates in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty. Gardening and being at one with nature has many benefits for those living with dementia; it can help people feel more relaxed and connected. You can refer your relative using the contact details below, if you think they would enjoy being part of the project.

Where? Patchworking Garden Project, Aviva Plc (formerly Friends Life), Sports Ground, Pixham Lane, RH4 1QA
When? Contact to be allocated to a gardening session.
Telephone: 07814 544420
Email: info@patchworkinggardenproject.co.uk

Dementia-Friendly Cricket, Farnham

Dementia-friendly cage cricket sessions suitable for all abilities and all levels of mobility. Cage Cricket is dynamic and visual entertainment, and can bring back treasured youth memories of the game.

Where? Farnham Leisure Centre, Dogflud Way, Farnham GU9 7UD
When? Every Thursday, 12 – 1pm
Telephone: 01483 523 394
Email: leisure@waverley.gov.uk

Dementia Swimming Sessions, Woking

Swimming has many proven benefits for those with dementia: reducing anxiety, improving mood and enhancing psychological well being. Each session in Woking is led by a qualified Swimming Teacher and caters for all abilities.

Carers are not necessarily required to go in the water. Please use the contact details below so that the leisure centre can support those wishing to attend sessions.

Where? Pool in the Park, Kingfield Road, Woking, GU22 9BA
When? Every Wednesday, 2pm – 3pm
Telephone: 01483 771 122
Email: poolinthepark@freedom-leisure.co.uk

Dementia-Friendly Tennis Sessions, Epsom

A modified tennis session designed for people with dementia using soft balls and light, short tennis racquets. A gentle tennis-related warm up is followed by stretches and rally-based games played at a relaxed pace. Those attending must be a member of the Epsom and Ewell Community and Wellbeing Centre. This costs a small annual fee but opens the door to other activities at the centre and people are welcome to try a tennis session first before joining.

Where? Epsom and Ewell Community and Wellbeing Centre, Sefton Rd, KT19 9HG
When? Every Monday, 2.15pm – 3.15pm
Telephone: 07711 388306
Email: jeburniston@gmail.com

Dementia-Friendly Walking Group

Walking Group run by Right at Home for people living with Dementia to enjoy fresh air and conversation. The group meets in the car park of the Rubbing House, and the walk is followed by lunch before pick up. Carers are not required to attending, giving an important respite.

Where? Rubbing House, Langley Vale Road, Epsom Downs, KT18 5LJ
When? 1st Thursday of the month at 10.45am, pick up at 1.15pm
Telephone: 01372 705785 (Tim Haith)

Entertainment in Surrey for People with Dementia

Living with dementia should not stop your relative from accessing entertainment and culture that they have before enjoyed. Here, Age Space have compiled dementia-friendly entertainment options across Surrey, from film to music to singing.

Dementia-Friendly Cinema

Dementia-friendly screenings make cinema more accessible to those living with dementia, their families and carers. They aim to be a fun and inclusive experience for people living with dementia to enjoy films.

Dorking Halls Dementia-Friendly Screening

Open to all, but the environment is designed especially for people with dementia and their families, friends and carers: no adverts or trailers, lighter than usual, volume reduced and people are free to get up during the film if they wish to.

Screenings are shown monthly on a Monday at 10.30am. Tickets are £6.50 and free tea and coffee is provided 30 minutes before the film starts.

Address: Dorking Halls, Reigate Rd, Dorking, RH4 1SG
Telephone: 01306 881717
Visit Website

The Light Cinema Dementia-Friendly Screening

At the Light Dementia-Friendly Screenings, there are no adverts or trailers and the lighting is raised throughout the film. Tickets are £5 and carers go free

Address: The Light Cinema, Addlestone One, KT15 2GN
Telephone: 01932 290 000
Visit Website

Harlequin Theatre Dementia-Friendly Screening

At the Harlequin Theatre, Dementia-friendly Screenings have low lighting, no adverts or trailers and people can move around or even sing along. For half an hour before the film free tea, coffee and biscuit are available so people can meet and socialise with others as well as familiarising themselves with the cinema. 

Tickets are £4.00 per person, with accompanying carers going free. Please contact the cinema for show times.

Address: The Harlequin Theatre & Cinema, Warwick Road, Redhill, RH1 1NN
Telephone: 01737 276500
Visit Website

Music Groups for People with Dementia

Music is very powerful in unlocking memories and is an increasingly recommended feature of dementia care. Listed below, are dementia-friendly music groups across Surrey. Contact details are provided, please enquire for pricing.

Dementia-Friendly Art Clubs in Surrey

Art has been proven to help people with dementia share their thoughts, emotions and memories through painting, drawing and other creative methods. Art Clubs are also a great way to meet other people living with dementia and form friendships.

Conquest Art Group

Conquest Art Groups aim to help people who live with a disability or long term illness find fulfillment through art. The groups are open to all, whatever their ability or disability, and have proved particularly popular for those with dementia.

The group sessions cost a small fee and all art materials are provided. Conquest Art Group run 10 groups across Surrey. Please find your local group below alongside contact details to get involved: