Reminiscence Learning - Dementia Awareness

We have close links with our local dementia charity, Reminiscence Learning and many opportunities to support and interact with them. Our Music Department regularly visits the centre to perform and provide contact and support. Music is one of the last senses to remain during the onset of dementia, so live performances and interaction is invaluable.

Our Sixth Form students work with Reminiscence Learning at their Funday Friday, providing activities and interaction for members of the community with dementia. These range from origami to mindful colouring and chair dancing to Connect 4! Reminiscence Learning also visited our Sixth Form Medical Society (MedSoc – for students who are hoping to work in health care professions) to talk about dementia to help increase awareness and understanding.

Wellington School hosted a Gala Dinner for the charity and a large art installation of Butterflies was created on site. Featuring over 9000 hand-made butterflies, representing the number of people living with dementia in Somerset, the installation was the centrepiece of the dinner. Many of these butterflies were made by our Prep School children. A family fun-day followed on Sunday with games, circus skills, Wellington Majorettes and a variety of classic cars, and also the building of a giant jigsaw. Patron Angela Rippon attended both events and is a determined supporter of the charity. A Cream Tea and Musical Extravaganza featuring Wellington School musicians rounded off a superb weekend of charity fundraising and awareness-building.

We ran a variety of activities with Year 4, including a Communications Workshop when Archie from Reminiscence Learning visited to dance with Year 4. After having fun, dancing the Hokey Cokey and the Conga, the children learnt that dancing and movement can help reduce the chances of dementia by 30%. All this activity was captured on film for a Somerset County Council dementia project. Our children also visited a local care home to sing carols and entertain the residents.

An additional element of the charity is The Archie Project - an intergenerational dementia awareness project that links primary schools, care homes, sheltered housing schemes, business/services and community members create dementia friendly communities. Children throughout the school have been working to link up with this to create awareness, tolerance and understanding of dementia. The Prep School work on specific projects within the curriculum to encourage awareness and were delighted to meet Patron HRH Sophie Countess of Wessex when she came to visit.

Aims

Raising funds for the charity

Creating opportunities for our students to engage with individuals with dementia to support and stimulate

To provide the use of our facilities to enable large scale events

Providing support and interaction

Background

We have close links with our local dementia charity, Reminiscence Learning and create many opportunities to support and interact with them.

Our Music Department regularly visits the centre to perform and provide contact and support. Music is one of the last senses to remain during the onset of dementia, so live performances and interaction is invaluable.