Somerset-based charity Reminiscence Learning was named Charity of the Year at the Somerset Business Awards ceremony at the Westland Conference and Leisure Complex in Yeovil last week.
Reminiscence Learning provides specialist training in dementia care and reminiscence therapy. The charity was responsible for initiating its ground-breaking Archie Project designed to make schools and communities more dementia friendly. Local children from Wellesley Park Primary School took part in the project, with the whole school dressing up as scarecrows and visiting residents in the dementia units at Oaktree Court and Popham House Residential Homes. This was their response to learning about Archie, the scarecrow whose story of being ignored and unloved made them aware of how dementia feels for its victims.
Fiona Mahoney from Reminiscence Learning said, “We are absolutely delighted to have won the award – it’s a real boost for all the team and will drive us forward to achieve even more!”
This is the second award for The Archie Project. Earlier this year Reminiscence Learning received national recognition at the Alzheimer’s Society’s first ever Dementia Friendly Awards.
Photographs by Simon York Photography