The Memory Café takes place at the same time as a toddler and family event and attendees come together to talk and take part in activities together.

Essex Library Service’s Memory Café in Harwich is connecting people across age groups in their local community to support independent living, health and wellbeing for people with dementia.

Harwich has high levels of people with dementia, high deprivation levels and a lack of services for people living with dementia.

The café was launched in Dementia Action Week in May 2022, and is a pilot for other successful groups in the area.

The Memory Café is for people living with dementia, their carers and families, and more than 20 local residents regularly attend and the café has doubled its frequency to meeting every two weeks.

The Café was set up on intergenerational model and takes place at the same time as Baby & Toddler Rhymetime, so that attendees of the café benefit from contact with the families singing and the buzz they create in the library.

The Café was created as a safe, welcoming, inclusive drop-in group where people connect and chat, and gain a sense of being part of a community. Participants can also engage in informal activities and have formed friendships with each other and volunteers.

“It’s lovely to see the people each time, connect with library staff and the other volunteers. It just gives me so much pleasure being down, here and you can beat that,” explained one volunteer at the café.

Attending the café also helps prevent loneliness and social isolation and make people feel part of their community.

“Thank you all so, so much for making Mum welcome at the Library. She was a bit worried about coming to the Memory Café but honestly, she thoroughly enjoyed herself and cannot wait for the next one. I am not wishing to sound dramatic but the difference in her was amazing,” said one attendee.

“She was full of herself, her mind was sharper, and she didn’t keep repeating herself.

“She was chatting and laughing with the family and telling us all about the children making her tree decorations and how she had had made a new friend, and they had enjoyed a lovely chat.

“I have tried other groups but have never felt very welcome or comfortable, so I stopped going to them. As soon as I walked into the library everyone was so welcoming.”