The Western Isles branch of Alzheimer Scotland will be welcoming their newest Forget Me Not Cafe to Lewis next month, in partnership with the Cabarfeidh Hotel in Stornoway.
The latest dementia-friendly musical event is being brought to the island through the partnership with the Cabarfeidh and its parent group, Cala Hotels, and is due to be held three times in the hotel's Willow Suite.
The first will be on Wednesday 21 October, with two more cafes on Wednesday 18 November and Wednesday 2 December. The events will be from 2pm to 4pm.
Alzheimer Scotland staff and volunteers lead these events, which offer a chance to "stay connected, make new friends and enjoy a sing along" with the Forget Me Not Cafe musicians – a dedicated local group led by Chrisanne and Angus (Hoddan) Macdonald from Point.
They are open to people living with dementia or memory difficulties, as well as carers, families, friends and the wider community.
Since April 2024, the purpose of Forget Me Not Cafes has been to provide support for people living with dementia and their families. Alzheimer Scotland said it also helps to reduce the stigma and build greater understanding of dementia within the local communities.
At the heart of the project in Lewis is the group led by Chrisanne and Angus.
The first forget Me Not Cafe was launched in Point with support from the Point and Sandwick Trust – a partnership that went on to become the foundation for the project and helped establish the community event that it has become.
Due to the success of the Point cafe, Alzheimer Scotland and the musicians expanded the model to other communities across Lewis.
There have been cafes at Kinloch Hub in Balallan, North Lochs, Pairc Trust Hall and Grinneabhat Community Centre in Bragar.
The cafes have grown and gained support from local communities, creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where friendships are formed and social connections strengthened.
This growth is said to demonstrate the impact of the original partnership and the appetite within communities for accessible, dementia-friendly activities centred around music and connection.
