Switchboard opens new community project – the Rainbow Café, to support LGBTQ people who live with memory loss or dementia.
With an £11,725 grant awarded by the Rainbow Fund, the Rainbow Café is a new initiative for LGBTQ people living with dementia or memory loss and their friends, families and carers. This new project also hopes to show that Switchboard is more than just a helpline as the charity continues to connect and support LGBTQ communities.
Launching the project last month to a packed crowd Switchboard’s CEO Daniel Cheesman, said: “We have had such positive feedback that we are providing this service in the City. We know that there is a big need to provide an LGBTQ specific space for those experiencing dementia. Gay or straight, dementia doesn’t discriminate and whilst we can’t do much about the condition itself we can play our part to ensure that environments are supportive and fully inclusive.”
The Rainbow Café opened by the Mayor Councillor Mo Marsh was followed by a showing of the awarding winning play The Purple List: A Gay Dementia Venture, telling the story of a same-sex couple, whose life is interrupted with a diagnosis of dementia. The performance was followed by a Q&A session with a panel made up of City wide services supporting dementia. It was acknowledged that there is still plenty of work to do in terms of supporting LGBTQ people living with the condition and Switchboard were praised for their efforts in responding to the need.
The Rainbow Café will run monthly with the next meeting taking place 11am-1pm on Thursday, March 21 at Brooke Mead, Albion Street.
To find about more about the Rainbow Café, email: rainbow.cafe@switchboard.org.uk or call the Switchboard office on 01273 234009 for more information.
Switchboard – Rainbow Café, Brooke Mead,
Albion Street. BN2 9PY
Thursday, March 22, 11am-1pm
Thursday, April 12, 11am-1pm
Thursday, May 10, 11am-1pm
Thursday, June 14, 11am-1pm
Thursday, July 12, 11am-1pm
Switchboard – Older Persons Project, Modello Lounge,
143-145 Church Road, Hove
Wednesday, March 7, 10:30am-12noon
Wednesday, April 4, 10:30am-12noon
Wednesday, May 2, 10:30am-12noon
Wednesday, June 6, 10:30-12noon
Wednesday, July 4, 10:30-12noon
Switchboard – Older Persons Project, Emmaus Café,
Locks Hill, Portslade Village
Thursday, March 15, 11am-12:30pm
Thursday, April 19, 11am-12:30pm
Thursday, May 17, 11am-12:30pm
Thursday, June 21, 11am-12:30pm
Thursday, July 19, 11am-12:30pm
Switchboard – Older Persons Project,
The Breakfast Club, Market Street, The Lanes, Brighton
Tuesday, March 27, 10-11:30am
Tuesday, April 24, 10-11:30am
Tuesday, May 22, 10-11:30am
Tuesday, June 26, 10-11:30am
Tuesday, July 24, 10-11:30am