East Coast Local Community Benefit Fund

Funding recipient story

Based in Banchory, Forget-Me-Not Club provide dementia support for both those living with a dementia diagnosis and their carers. To benefit both the physical and mental wellbeing of those that they support, the organisation were looking to expand their group activity offering by introducing chair yoga.

Members of the Forget-Me-No-Club, recipients of Community Benefit Funding

Providing dementia support through physical activity

£3,642 has been awarded to Forget-Me-Not Club, Dementia Support from the East Coast Local Fund.

Chair yoga supports physical health through focussing on flexibility, strength, balance and mobility – all of which reduced the risk of falls. In addition, these exercises need people to focus on their breathing and posture, which can help reduce the anxiety and agitation that many people with dementia experience. As these are held as group sessions, they also offer an opportunity for social inclusion, encouraging participants to engage with others and share memories.

The funding from the East Coast Local Fund has contributed towards the running of three chair yoga sessions each week over the course of a year, reaching a minimum of 34 people per week. These sessions are run as respite sessions, meaning that families and carers also benefit, as they can use this time as a chance to recharge their batteries.

Kerry Simmers, General Manager at Forget-Me-Not Club, said:

"This award from the East Coast Local Fund has allowed us to deliver an engaging and rewarding course of chair-based yoga sessions for the clients who attend our activity centre.

People with dementia can lose confidence in their bodies, so a regular opportunity to reconnect with bodily autonomy by practicing movement and balance has enormous health and therapeutic benefits, as well of course as simply being a fun activity to enjoy.

After the yoga sessions we would routinely see immediate results, with our clients noticeably uplifted and happy, but we were also delighted to observe ongoing improvement in their confidence and flexibility. Thank you so much to SSEN Transmission for making this wonderful project possible!"