A ‘huge need’ has been met in a Merseyside town with the launch of a new café
The Dementia Cafe is the brainchild of CEO of Southport Community Sports Steve Haworth and volunteer Jenny Bowles.
Six weeks ago, Jenny Bowles received a text message asking if she would be up for opening a new café with a special purpose behind it. Fast-forward to this week, and that message has become a reality in the middle of Southport.
The 50-year-old volunteer, also from the seaside town, teamed up with Southport Community Sports CEO Steve Haworth to launch the “much-needed” Forget Me Not café at the YMCA Southport on Hoghton Street.
The pair both have personal experience of dementia within their families—Steve’s uncle and Jenny’s dad—motivating them to create a warm, supportive environment for others facing similar challenges.
Jenny told the ECHO: “My dad lived at home with us for a long time, and when his health needs deteriorated quite significantly, he went into nursing care. We were still able to take him out, but there are so many challenges with unpredictable behaviour and toileting needs.
Inside the new cafe at YMCA Southport on Hoghton Street
“It’s very difficult to feel comfortable when you’re taking someone that you love and care for, out who suffers from late stages of dementia.
“People who suffer don’t always wear a badge. I know there are opportunities, perhaps sometimes, to use the sunflower badge or something that tries to indicate that there’s a hidden disability, but I think that’s difficult in itself.
“I just found I was never relaxed taking him into public coffee shops, and I don’t feel he relaxed either. What we want to achieve at our new café is to feel like you are in your own living room.”
The café welcomed its first set of visitors on Wednesday, December 3 during a two-hour welcome session. Local businesses on and around Hoghton Street also came together to back the project to help ensure it can be free-of-charge for as long as possible.
Southport Community Sports Steve Haworth and volunteer Jenny Bowles outside their latest venture
Steve said: “We’ve been transforming a room in the centre into a cosy, living-room style space filled with old memorabilia, music and activities. There is a real need for something like this in Southport.
“People are welcome to drop in for a quick hot drink or stay for the full two hours—cakes and drinks will be available. Just turn up, we’d love to see you. If it becomes very busy, we may introduce a booking system or extend the opening hours.
“We want to hear from visitors about what they’d like the café to offer. We’ve both supported loved ones with dementia, so we understand the unpredictability and the challenges people face.
“Not everyone feels confident about where they can take a family member with dementia, so we’re creating a calm, supportive and non-judgemental space. There is a huge need for somewhere like this in Southport.”
The lounge area of the new cafe
“It can be incredibly stressful for families and carers, whether they live with someone with dementia or have made the difficult decision for them to move into care. The café will offer respite, support and companionship. No one should feel alone- we’re here for them.”
The café will run two further sessions on Wednesday, December 10 and 17, with January sessions to be confirmed after Christmas.
While Sainsbury’s has donated refreshments, Southport’s ASDA added some festive sparkle by gifting a 9ft-tall Christmas tree. The Print Quarter has also distributed some leaflets for the venue to local GP surgeries and others to raise awareness and let families know that it is opening and will soon be available.
Jenny added: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from local businesses, especially our neighbours on Hoghton Street. We are still seeking further help—both financial and in-kind contributions—to keep the café running and expand it to meet the significant local need.”