Age UK Berkshire are running a programme of walks across Berkshire funded by Get Berkshire Active (Tackling Inequalities Fund).
Walks take place in 4 areas – Bracknell, Wokingham, Reading & West Berkshire and at a different location each time. The walks have been hugely successful with between 6 – 15 walkers on each one and numbers are growing each time.
So far 79 people with dementia and their carers have taken part and we a month left of delivery.
The walks offer social interaction, exercise and a chance for carers to seek much-needed peer support from others. Additional feedback from carers is around the positive impact on both their own mental health which has been impacted due to the reduced level of activities/support during the COVID restrictions and also an increase in positive mood of the person that they care for.
'I found during lockdown that A was really going into his shell but these walks are bringing him back to life again. Keep up the good work!'
'It is so important to be able to interact with people who understand his problems. I find I can totally relax without having to explain that he has a few difficulties with communication'
'We both enjoyed chatting and enjoying the surroundings and look forward to the next one'
'Thank you so much for organising the walks. For the first time after a year, E is engaging socially with others again and she is really enjoying the walks and company. I can see it already has a very positive impact on her wellbeing and self-esteem'
' Lovely walk with a nice set of folk today! Yes please to the next one'
'B and I really enjoyed the walk today and it is so important to keep B involved with other people as he was becoming rather withdrawn'
