{"id":4423,"date":"2025-04-23T10:00:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T10:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/?p=4423"},"modified":"2025-04-23T09:09:06","modified_gmt":"2025-04-23T09:09:06","slug":"bringing-joy-to-people-living-with-dementia-in-bath","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/04\/23\/bringing-joy-to-people-living-with-dementia-in-bath\/","title":{"rendered":"Bringing Joy to people living with dementia in Bath"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-ast-global-color-8-color\">L<\/mark>ansdown Friendship Club (LFC) is a small group in Bath run by volunteers to support people living with dementia and their families. We gave them a grant in 2023 to buy play equipment. This time we helped fund their Christmas 2024 party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:34px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Mary-Jane who runs LFC, told us how it all unfolded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image alignleft uagb-block-02b0661c wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-left\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/elf.jpg ,https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/elf.jpg 780w, https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/elf.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 150px\" src=\"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/elf.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-4421\" width=\"196\" height=\"272\" title=\"elf\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\"\/><figcaption class=\"uagb-image-caption\"><strong><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-ast-global-color-4-color\">greeted at the door<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBefore the event, the volunteers worked hard to decorate the room and tables and prepare the refreshments. Our guests were greeted outside by a Christmas Elf before entering a wonderfully festive room filled with Christmas music. They were welcomed with mulled wine or warm spiced apple juice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our guests chatted with each other and our volunteers and then got comfortable at tables where they were served mince pies, more drinks and awaited the entertainment. The room was filled with conversation and laughter. There were Christmas cracker jokes to enjoy and memories of childhood Christmas traditions were shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>St Stephen\u2019s Primary School Choir were soon getting ready on the stage, and a hush buzzed around the room as everyone waited expectantly for the children to sing. The school choir were amazing, beautifully singing both traditional carols and Christmas songs. Chocolates were passed around the tables. Applause and appreciative comments filled the room after every song. It was lovely to see so many smiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignright is-light\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);min-height:232px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#988b81\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"939\" height=\"388\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-4419\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/choir.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/choir.jpg 939w, https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/choir-300x124.jpg 300w, https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/choir-768x317.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 939px) 100vw, 939px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-cover-is-layout-2ae561bf wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div style=\"height:107px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size\"><strong><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-ast-global-color-4-color\">singalong with a great choir<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone joined the choir to sing a rousing chorus of \u2018We wish you a Merry Christmas\u2019 as they left the stage for some well-earned juice, Christmas biscuits and a quick walk back to school for home time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The kettles were now boiling for the intermission of our afternoon\u2019s entertainment. Cups of tea and cafetieres of coffee were served alongside more mulled wine, mince pies, shortbread and of course chocolates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image alignleft uagb-block-2ff9eb6d wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-left\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/father-christmas.jpg ,https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/father-christmas.jpg 780w, https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/father-christmas.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 150px\" src=\"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/father-christmas.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-4422\" width=\"199\" height=\"236\" title=\"father christmas\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\"\/><figcaption class=\"uagb-image-caption\"><strong><em><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-ast-global-color-4-color\">here&#8217;s to the next time<\/mark><\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As a group we read out the worst of the Christmas cracker jokes and the room was filled with laughter and groans! Our old friends the Lansdown Ukuladies arrived, tuned up and the stage spotlights again turned on. Christmas songbooks were passed around plus percussion instruments and a fun half an hour of a community Christmas singing along with the Ukuladies followed. Our Christmas party drew to close with great applause and thanks to the amazing Ukuladies. Christmas greetings were shared and Christmas cards with love and good wishes from the Lansdown Friendship volunteer team given to our guests. There was no rush to leave, the conversation continued, and the chocolates passed around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:27px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Our guests left offering thanks for the fun festive afternoon and looking forward to meeting up again in January. 26 guests were able to attend this Christmas gathering. Those who couldn\u2019t were hand delivered the following day take aways: mince pies, chocolates, Christmas cards with love and Christmas greetings from everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This hugely successful Christmas event reflected the welcome and community that the Lansdown Friendship club offers to people living with memory difficulties and their family and friends. \u201c<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Lansdown is typical of great groups working in their local communities to support people living with dementia and their families. Bringing people together gives them so much joy and breaks a pattern of isolation. We will continue to support LFC working with Mary-Jane and the wonderful team of volunteers<em><br><br><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lansdown Friendship Club (LFC) is a small group in Bath run by volunteers to support people living with dementia and their families. We gave them a grant in 2023 to buy play equipment. This time we helped fund their Christmas 2024 party. Mary-Jane who runs LFC, told us how it all unfolded. \u201cBefore the event, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":4403,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-community-hub"],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/woman-4792042_640.jpg",256,275,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/woman-4792042_640-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/woman-4792042_640.jpg",256,275,false],"medium_large":["https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/woman-4792042_640.jpg",256,275,false],"large":["https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/woman-4792042_640.jpg",256,275,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/woman-4792042_640.jpg",256,275,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/woman-4792042_640.jpg",256,275,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Nick Parry","author_link":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/index.php\/author\/onlyforme\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Lansdown Friendship Club (LFC) is a small group in Bath run by volunteers to support people living with dementia and their families. We gave them a grant in 2023 to buy play equipment. This time we helped fund their Christmas 2024 party. Mary-Jane who runs LFC, told us how it all unfolded. \u201cBefore the event,&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4423"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4423\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4435,"href":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4423\/revisions\/4435"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parrycharity.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}