Memory Café open to support people living with memory conditions

Released: 15.11.23

The Marjon Memory Café, a space for people living with dementia and their families or carers, has opened as part of Plymouth Marjon University’s lifelong commitment to supporting the local community.

The Memory Café offers a free sanctuary of support for those living with dementia, their loved ones and caregivers. It offers a friendly and informal environment where guests can feel safe, socialise with others, and take part in various activities designed to help increase brain activity and reduce social isolation.

Visitors to the Memory Café can join in a variety of activities, including quizzes, singing, skittles, and crafts. These activities are carefully curated to stimulate the mind, promote memory, and encourage social interaction. For those living with dementia, keeping the brain active can help delay the progression of the condition, and the Café plays a pivotal role in achieving this.

A unique aspect of the Marjon Memory Café is the active involvement of students and staff from Plymouth Marjon University. Psychology students and staff members are on hand to engage with visitors, offer support, and plan and lead café sessions. This interaction benefits both the visitors and the students, providing them with valuable hands-on experience working with people in the community living with memory conditions.

Dr Hazel Bending, Programme Leader for the BSc Psychology course at Marjon said:

“Our Café is a great free resource for our local community, supporting caregivers and their loved ones managing dementia whilst providing key practical experiences for our students to develop and enhance their practice.”

Chantal Buxton, a Marjon student studying MRes Psychology who supports the running of the Café, added:

“The Marjon Memory Café is a social gathering where friendships are formed, and support is on offer for all. Our attendees benefit from the conversations sharing experiences and advice, whilst participating in activities designed to stimulate memories. It's a great opportunity for me to put my learning into practice and gain experience into a variety of care settings. "

The Marjon Memory Café also enables visiting caregivers to meet with others who are in similar situations, learn about support services available, and gain insight into managing memory conditions with empathy. This communal knowledge-sharing is vital in supporting families and caregivers as they navigate the challenges of caring for someone with dementia.

Marjon leads a number of community health and care clinics on its campus in the north of the city, including speech and language, osteopathy, and long-term conditions clinics. Find more information about publicly available clinics at Marjon here.

The Marjon Memory Café is free for all to attend, and there’s no need to book. Visitors can head to the main reception at Plymouth Marjon University, sign in, and a member of the Café team will escort you to the right place. Parking is free, and accessible parking bays are available in multiple locations on the University campus.

Find more information about the Marjon Memory Café here, support for people living with dementia here, and FAQs about the condition here.

The Marjon Memory Café runs on the last Wednesday of each month, from 2 pm to 3:30 pm. The next three sessions are:
Wednesday 29 November
Wednesday 13 December
Wednesday 31 January