New Chester dementia café welcomes first guests

A new café, offering a warm and welcoming space for those living with dementia and their loved ones, has opened in Chester, serving as a valuable support network for all local people.

Hosted by not-for-profit dementia specialist, Belong, B’s Café takes place at the City Road care village, and gives guests the opportunity to enjoy a range of experiences while accessing support and forming new friendships at the monthly sessions. The programme includes arts and crafts workshops, pet therapy, specialist exercise classes and visits from musical performers.  

Also on-hand, Belong Admiral Nurses provide a dedicated dementia nurse service available through the organisation’s partnership with another charity, Dementia UK, offering advice and the confidence to help individuals and their loved ones manage a future living with dementia.   

Charlotte Parton, experience coordinator at Belong Chester, explains more about the new venture: “Dementia affects not only the person living with it, but also their family and friends, who are often their carers, too. We understand the challenges they can face, sometimes on their own, and that’s why we’ve launched B’s Café, to give a helping hand and a support network, which we know is vitally important to have.”  

The dementia café is open to everyone, including non-residents. Speaking of the inaugural gathering, one guest said: “My husband is living with dementia and he was fully engaged and he said how marvellous the afternoon was – to hear him say this aloud means so much to me.” 

Charlotte continued: “B’s café is named after our inspirational colleague, Belinda Jones, who is sadly no longer with us after losing a two-year battle with cancer. She helped shape our values, including being compassionate, and this extends outside our village to the wider community. Her legacy lives on and we know how much something like this would mean to her and her family.” 

B’s Café takes place monthly at Belong Chester, City Road, Chester, CH1 3AD.

For more information or to book a place at the next sessions on May 24th and June 28th, contact Charlotte Parton by calling:

01244 - 445500

Pictured - Belong Chester Dementia Cafe.