A charity that provides services for people with dementia has received a windfall thanks to the cutting edge design of a new centre of excellence.
The Bodlondeb centre in Wrexham, opened by First Minister Carwyn Jones, is in the running to scoop a second UK award.
The Pendine Park care organisation was given £500 to donate to their chosen charity as a reward for being among the finalists of the Pinder Healthcare Design Awards.
The company decided to give the money to the Alzheimer’s Society with whom they work closely.
The cheque was presented to Jacky Baldini, Locality Manager for the Alzheimer’s Society in North Wales, during a visit by the competition judges to Bodlondeb.
They were treated to a repertoire of songs and poetry by residents and staff together with a singing party from Ysgol Bryn Tabor, the Welsh language primary school in nearby Coedpoeth.
Towards the end of last year, the Bodlondeb centre was named as the best new dementia care facility in Britain at the UK Over 50s Housing Awards.
The winners of prestigious Pinders Healthcare Design will be announced during a ceremony at Lords Cricket Ground.
Judge John Chapman felt it was appropriate that the money was donated to the Alzheimer’s Society.
He said: “We have been running these awards for 12 years and the whole idea is to foster and improve relationships and get people to share ideas.
“We came to look at a building and we are gobsmacked at the welcome we have been given.
“We have been treated to a warm welcome and some wonderful singing. It’s been wonderful.”
Jacky Baldini was also bowled over by the occasion.
She said: “We were absolutely delighted to receive the cheque. At the moment, with funding being the way it is, we are relying on the generosity of cheques such as this and it goes such a long way towards us providing services for people with dementia – and for their carers.
“The services we provide in Wrexham are designed to help people live well with dementia.
“Our aim it so ensure that people can live at home for as long as they possibly can because that’s what people would choose to do.
“The number of people with dementia has increased and is forecast to go up even more dramatically over the coming years.
“Services such as ours and places such as Bodlondeb are going to be in higher demand all the time – and it all relies on having the money to do that.
“Dementia does not just affect older people. It’s not a natural part of the ageing process.
“We are now working in partnership with Tesco who are fund-raising for us and Robbie Savage was at the launch in Wrexham.His father was 55 when they recognised there was something wrong.
“Although it is more prevalent among people who are older, sadly it does also affect people who are younger.
“So providing services outside the structures that are there for older people is really important.”
Bodlondeb Manager Ann Chapman: “It’s absolutely marvellous to have the judges come into Bodlondeb and share what we have achieved. I think they were blown away by the warm Welsh welcome.
“There is so much thought that’s gone into the design of Bodlondeb and we have been able to change people’s lives in such a positive way.
“Whatever the outcome of the competition, it is fantastic to be a finalist. It is a very proud moment.”
