Then, Now and Forever To Support Leicester Adults Facing Dementia
- Leicester City in the Community has received a £20,000 grant from Leicester City Council to fund a new programme
- Then, Now and Forever will help older Leicestershire adults with Dementia through four main elements of delivery
- Leicester City’s charitable arm are working alongside Age UK, Royal Voluntary Service and Leicester Musical Memory Box
- Former Leicester City Midfielder Colin Gibson joined the launch event at King Power Stadium
The Then, Now and Forever project launched at King Power Stadium with the aim of offering additional support to the region’s adults suffering with Dementia.
Thanks to a £20,000 grant from Leicester City Council, Leicester City in the Community will work alongside Age UK, Royal Voluntary Service and Leicester Musical Memory Box.
The project will be split into four main elements of delivery – community workshops, social cafés, events with Leicester City legends and walking football sessions – all of which will aid in the prevention of the condition worsening, as well as preventing social isolation.
Dave Eassom, Community Engagement Coach at Leicester City in the Community explained how the organisation are doing their part for adults living with the disease.
“We live in an ageing population and the number of people [with Dementia] are growing,” Eassom told us. "We are here and we can offer this and that. Age UK will have the groups, so by working together we can be stronger.
“We need to try and meet the demand, as we are working with these organisations. And with the training we are doing, I think we are going to keep ahead."
Former Leicester midfielder, Colin Gibson, was in attendance at a launch event on Filbert Way, which saw around 30 adults in attendance despite the snowy conditions in the city.
Gibson, a sufferer of Dementia himself, discussed the importance of breaking the stigma with programmes like Then, Now and Forever.
“Unfortunately, whether we like it or don’t like it, dementia is going to happen to some of us,” said the former Fox. "The more we can accept that this can be a part of life and we can do something about it, that’s why the Then, Now and Forever group is a fantastic thing to do.
“Leicester City is something everybody here is fond of, and something people can cling on to. For me to come here and have a little chat has been delightful – the more we can do this, the better it is going to be for the future.”
Find out more about Age UK’s Memory Cafés and where they are located HERE.
For further information, please contact Community Engagement Coach, Dave Eassom, via email at david.eassom@lcfc.co.uk to find out more and get involved with the initiative.