By Isle of Wight Observer
More than 1,200 older Island residents with memory problems are set to benefit from a new support initiative thanks to a £60,000 grant from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Freemasons to Age UK Isle of Wight (AUKIW).
The two-year project, called Dementia Chatty Brews, will provide social sessions for people living with dementia and their carers in venues across the Island, aiming to reduce isolation and help build support networks. Each session will offer conversation, activities, and access to expert advice – including guidance on Attendance Allowance and Blue Badge eligibility.
The project will be run by AUKIW’s Older Person Mental Health Navigators and trained volunteers. As a key partner in the Island’s NHS and council dementia strategy, AUKIW brings more than 50 years of local experience to the role.
According to NHS data, 2,655 Islanders were living with dementia in 2022, a figure expected to rise by 47 per cent to 3,920 by 2030.
The Freemasons’ funding comes via the Masonic Charitable Foundation, supported by Freemasons, their families and friends across England and Wales.
Kim Williams, from Age UKIW, said the project would offer ‘welcoming spaces for connection’ and vital support for carers.
Island resident Adrian Cleightonhills, Solent Area Head for the Freemasons, added: “This is essential support for a group that is growing enormously and for their carers, who themselves urgently need help.”
Rufus Pickles - Local Democracy Reporter