As part of its ongoing mission to improve the lives of people living with dementia, leading local charity Dementia NI has chosen Ballymoney as the location for its new Empowerment Group, with the launch event taking place on Thursday 22nd February 2024, 12pm-2pm, at Ballymoney Town Hall, 1 Townhead Street, Ballymoney, BT53 6BE.
Dementia NI has more than 12 Empowerment Groups across the whole of Northern Ireland. These Groups provide a place for local people in the early to middle stages of dementia to come together, share experiences and provide peer support to one another. The Groups are also a place for Dementia NI members to press for changes in policy and services and challenge the stigma of dementia.
The charity is inviting everyone in the local area to join them for their Dementia NI Engage and Connect launch event. Whether you would like to talk with Dementia NI members about their experiences of living with dementia or are looking for information on practical support available in your local area, Dementia NI encourages you to come along. The event also offers the chance to find out about volunteering and fundraising opportunities with Dementia NI.
Dementia NI Founding Member John McErlane, who set up the charity with four other people with dementia after being diagnosed in his early fifties, comments, “I am delighted that Dementia NI is starting an Empowerment Group in Ballymoney. Bringing people together with a dementia diagnosis is very powerful. We can learn a great deal from each other as we are all in the same boat. Starting a new group in Ballymoney is very exciting for me, the new members and the people of Ballymoney”.
Reflecting on the support he received following his diagnosis with early onset dementia seven years ago, Dementia NI Member and Trustee, Davie McElhinney, 60, says, “Since joining Dementia NI, the support I’ve received has really helped me. After my first group meeting, I felt better. Getting to meet the other members has provided me with confidence and a new outlook.”
Commenting on the upcoming event, Conor Lawell, Empowerment Facilitator at Dementia NI, says, “Dementia NI is coming to Ballymoney with some of our existing members and championing our message of hope – that with the right support, it is possible to live well with dementia. We invite members of the public to join us to come and hear what we have to offer. We look forward to seeing you on the day.’’
Come and talk to the Dementia NI team, get involved and help the charity make a real difference to the lives of local people. See you there!
For further information on Dementia NI’s Empowerment Groups, please contact Empowerment Facilitator Conor Lawell on 07734 375 583 or email conor@dementiani.org
To find out more about the work of Dementia NI, visit our website at www.dementiani.org