By Ashley Young-
A charity which first took off during the heights of the pandemic, is launching a new service to provide an opportunity for those who suffer with memory loss to socialise.
The charity called 3Food4U is beginning its monthly 3MemoryCafe4U service for anyone who would like to mix with other people, but particularly anyone with a memory issue and their careers.
The sessions are free and will be activity-based with singing, word games, puzzles, bingo and more with free light refreshments.
People with memory issues often ask the same questions repeatedly and forget common words when speaking. Many of them also mix words up and taking longer to complete familiar tasks, and many misplace items or put them in inappropriate places, such as putting a wallet in a kitchen drawer. Socialising keeps them more enthusiastic and feeling valued and part of a wider community.
Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a set of symptoms, including impairment in memory, reasoning, judgment, language and other thinking skills. The condition usually begins gradually, and worsens over time. It can sometimes impair a person’s ability to work, and also affect their social interactions and relationships.
Volunteers helping out in Ongar Image:3foodfor U
By bringing people suffering with memory loss together, the charity is contributing a very useful role by not leaving these people feeling abandoned. In addition to creating a social environment for those with memory loss, the charity also runs a daily food bank that that puts no requirements on who can attend.
”Our food bank is open everyday of the week.It is a community surplus hub with no financial assessment conducted. Everybody is welcome there”, Organiser, Pesh Rapasiaswala told The Eye Of Media.Com
Speaking about the charity’s support for those with memeory loss, he said:”Its an opportunity for people with memori issues and their carers to socialise . We conduct lots of puzzles, music and singing, its an activity based service.
‘It’s main focus of those who suffer memory loss, but anybody is invited to join us. Many of those suffering memory loss sometimes mix up their words or forget where they have placed things, but they never forget their early childhood memories. Those who lived through any of the wars will remember those days.
‘We also operate a GP clinic alongside with the Nhs, by giving people a ful check. It takes the pressure off doctors by providing a bill of health.
We have had many people without any food at all call for help, and we are always willing to help them.
The serice was started by Pesh 18 months ago, when he discovered how much food goes to waste in many organisations.
”During the lockdown when everything closed down, I noticed there was so much food thrown away which could go to good use in helping others”.
The first session will take place from 10am to 12pm on Wednesday, October 20 at St James’ Church Hall, and then on the third Wednesday of each month.
.This service is in addition to the Loughton Memory Café on the first Friday of the month from 10am to 12pm at Loughton Club
”Its an opportunity for people to mix and socialise, with a lot of puzzles,music and singing. It’s an activity based services
Pesh also praised one of 3Food4U’s youngest and most committed volunteers, 16-year-old Joe Gunn, who has conducted fundraising for the charity, and been an inspiration to the team, especially as a young teenager.
”Joe has been an inspiration to the organisation. He is really proactive, a young mature teenager for his age. He took time out to volunteer for us for 5 months, and has now gone on to do his A levels, but he will be back when he has some time. He conducted a number of presentations and has been really proactive. He is a very confident young man.
We have had a few teenagers from the Duke Of Edinburg’s award who have done some volunteering with us”, he said.