1. To raise awareness of dementia, and of how the community can support people living with dementia to participate in community life.

For this to happen, ordinary community activities that you have always done need to become dementia-inclusive.

You are still entitled to participate – you don’t have to give up. Across Tweeddale in each community there are so many activities and hobbies already. Keep attending and doing and talking about your dementia to your friends.

Show them what you CAN do. Help them to understand how they can enjoy including you with your dementia, and to encourage others with dementia to come along too. You are still contributing your skills, which makes you a valued participant.

2. To promote social inclusion for people living with dementia by providing social and recreational activities, by ascertaining what resources they and their families would like to see in Tweeddale, and, where practicable, by facilitating the introduction of such resources.

Dementia Friendly Tweeddale is leading the way with a Memory Café in Peebles – so far only once a fortnight on Thursdays, 2.30 – 4.00pm in Firholm Innerleithen Road, Peebles.

Dovecot Singers runs every Tuesday at Dovecot Court in Peebles, where Anna Ludwig, a fully qualified professional music therapist leads us in voice warmup and singing.

Throughout 2025 very inclusive Ceilidh Tea Dances happen every 2 months on a Friday afternoon in Cardrona Village Hall.

We can all help each other to provide socially-inclusive activities and care in the community.

3. To encourage effective communication between statutory bodies, Third Sector agencies, and people affected by dementia.

This is where Dementia Friendly Tweeddale people can help you, by being the go-between and enabling the environment for dialogue and interaction, by pointing the way to learning about dementia, through online training sessions and face-to-face meeting and greeting.

We can put you in touch with What Matters Hub, local Local Area Co-ordinator Team,  Post diagnostic Team, Social workers, who all have links with others eg occupational therapists, handicrafts, walking football, music activities and social organisations in town.

4. To work towards creating a dementia friendly Tweeddale.

Why is this needed? I t is estimated that by 2050 one in two of us will be affected by dementia, either by living with or caring for someone with dementia or by getting it ourselves, or knowing someone who has it. Care in the Community is now the preferred way to deal with social needs.

Our social communities must wake up to taking responsibility for our loved ones, our neighbours and friends, who are rendered less able through no fault of their own. Vibrant communities are inclusive of all ages and abilities and what is right for dementia is good for everyone. Dementia Friendly Tweeddale intends to invite all shops, businesses and public services including Third Sector organisations and Schools in our district of Tweeddale – to be accessible to and as welcoming as possible to people affected by dementia.

DFT has been awarded £10,000 from Scottish Government via Meeting Centres Scotland to put towards creating the first Meeting Centre in the Scottish Borders in Peebles. Let’s create a Dementia Friendly Community of Tweeddale to support this project.