Memory Cafe

Liz Matthews
24 June 2026

What An Incredible Community We Have!

What An Incredible Community We Have! https://haydonwick.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/PHOTO-2026-06-16-14-19-31.jpg 1600 900 Liz Matthews Liz Matthews https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3c218b56a6fa3d8df354fa71beb70533e452920ca3bf5dad7bf5eacb9ca1ed8c?s=96&d=mm&r=g 24 June 2026 14 August 2026

Last week, Paul from Booth and Sons in Purton kindly took away a table and chairs — generously donated by one of our residents — and returned them beautifully sandblasted and painted in the iconic Dementia Forget-Me-Not blue, completely free of charge. They will now sit proudly alongside our other gifted set, welcoming Memory Café residents and anyone passing by who fancies a rest in our peaceful, tranquil area.

This special space is part of our award-winning Sensory Garden, created to provide a calm, safe and relaxing environment for those living with dementia and their companions. Designed to stimulate the senses and spark memories through carefully chosen plants and surroundings, it has become a much-loved place for conversation, connection and quiet reflection.

And earlier this week, our amazing volunteers gave up their spare time to prune and weed the garden, making the most of the gorgeous sunshine — getting it ready for some lovely new planting and giving the tranquil area a fresh lick of paint too!

The Sensory Garden has grown through kindness and collaboration over the years, supported by generous donations, local businesses and dedicated volunteers. Together, they’ve helped create a space that not only supports wellbeing but also fosters friendships and brings people together.

It truly takes a village, and we are so grateful for every single person who gives their time, skills and kindness to make this such a special place

Liz Matthews
21 May 2026

Haydon Wick Parish Council to Donate Mobii Interactive Table to Prospect Hospice

Haydon Wick Parish Council to Donate Mobii Interactive Table to Prospect Hospice https://haydonwick.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_1393-scaled.jpg 2560 1707 Liz Matthews Liz Matthews https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3c218b56a6fa3d8df354fa71beb70533e452920ca3bf5dad7bf5eacb9ca1ed8c?s=96&d=mm&r=g 21 May 2026 3 June 2026

Haydon Wick Parish Council agreed to donate its Mobii interactive activity table to Prospect Hospice on Moormead Road in Wroughton, ensuring the specialist equipment is used to its full potential to support patients with life-limiting illnesses.

The Mobii table was originally purchased to support community wellbeing activities such as the Haydon Wick Memory Café, but it has seen little use in recent years. Despite efforts to promote it for internal use, external hire, and use by local schools and care homes, demand remained low. Similar technology is now widely available across the care sector, further reducing interest in the Council’s unit.

By donating the Mobii table to Prospect Hospice, the Council aims to ensure the equipment continues to deliver meaningful value to the community. The interactive table will support:

Enhanced patient engagement and cognitive stimulation
Therapeutic and social activities for hospice users
Improved quality of stay for individuals receiving specialist care.

The handover of the Mobii interactive activity table comes at a particularly timely moment during Dementia Action Week, reinforcing the importance of tools and activities that support cognitive stimulation, communication, and wellbeing. As awareness is raised around improving understanding of dementia and promoting early intervention, the donation provides a practical resource that can help enhance engagement and quality of life for patients receiving care at Prospect Hospice.

The donation further complements the £2,000.00 community grant awarded from Haydon Wick Parish Council to the Prospect Hospice in June 2024, helping to support the Hospice at Home service for patients in Haydon Wick who wish to be cared for at home. The £2,000 donation funded 10 overnight visits for family carers needing respite, or almost 50 daytime visits supporting patients at home.

A spokesperson for Haydon Wick Parish Council said:

“This donation reflects our commitment to community wellbeing. Prospect Hospice is well placed to make full use of the Mobii table, ensuring it benefits local people when meaningful engagement and comfort matter most.”

The decision also reflects the Council’s wider approach to community support and responsible asset management, ensuring underused resources are redirected where they can have the greatest impact.

A spokesperson for Prospect Hospice, Wroughton, said:

“We are very grateful to Haydon Wick Parish Council for this generous donation. The Mobii interactive activity table will create valuable opportunities for engagement, stimulation, and social interaction for the people in our care.

Equipment like this can make a meaningful difference to patients and families by supporting wellbeing, encouraging connection, and enhancing the overall hospice experience. We are delighted to put the Mobii table to good use within our services.”

Together, the Mobii interactive table donation and ongoing grant support highlight the strong partnership between Haydon Wick Parish Council and Prospect Hospice, helping to improve comfort, wellbeing and care for local people and their families when they need it most.

Liz Matthews
20 April 2026

Interested in Supporting our Community Cafes?

Interested in Supporting our Community Cafes? https://haydonwick.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Memory-Cafe-Volunteers-sq-scaled.png 2560 2560 Liz Matthews Liz Matthews https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3c218b56a6fa3d8df354fa71beb70533e452920ca3bf5dad7bf5eacb9ca1ed8c?s=96&d=mm&r=g 20 April 2026 20 April 2026

Love people? Love community? Help us keep our Community Cafés thriving.

Our community cafés are about connection, understanding, and creating welcoming spaces for people who need them most.

We currently run three much‑loved cafés:

Haydon Wick Haven – a warm, welcoming space for everyone in our community to connect

Memory Café – supporting people living with dementia

Companion Café – supporting those caring for loved ones living with dementia

These cafés run regularly and are incredibly important to those who attend. To ensure we continue delivering a safe, high‑quality and compassionate experience, we’re looking to train new volunteers to join our friendly team.

We are especially keen to hear from people who:

Have some understanding or experience of dementia

Are kind, patient, and reliable

Can offer a few hours a week

Our volunteer team is a warm, supportive, and fun bunch — and volunteering with us is a chance to make a real difference in people’s lives.

If this sounds like something you’d enjoy and feel suited to,

contact us at: memorycafe@haydonwick.gov.uk – we’d love to hear from you!

Together, we can keep our cafés welcoming, supportive, and full of connection

Liz Matthews
8 April 2026

What a wonderful morning at the Memory Café

What a wonderful morning at the Memory Café https://haydonwick.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Memory-Cafe-Social-square-01.png 1100 1100 Liz Matthews Liz Matthews https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3c218b56a6fa3d8df354fa71beb70533e452920ca3bf5dad7bf5eacb9ca1ed8c?s=96&d=mm&r=g 8 April 2026 20 April 2026

We were delighted to welcome Admiral Nurse Dee, who gave a beautifully clear and heartfelt insight into the incredible work Admiral Nurses do, both out in the community and within the hospital.

We also had the pleasure of welcoming Sharon Tyler, who led a lively and interactive session taking us back to the 70s — and what life was like right here in Swindon during that era.

It sparked so many wonderful memories, stories, and smiles around the room.

A truly special morning of reminiscing, connecting, and celebrating shared experiences. We love seeing our community come together like this.

The next Memory Café is on Wednesday 22nd April, 10.30am – 12.30pm, at the Haydon Wick Bowls Club.

Liz Matthews
20 August 2025

Memory Café Cheque Presentation – from Rusland Cookery School & Highworth Masonic Lodge

Memory Café Cheque Presentation – from Rusland Cookery School & Highworth Masonic Lodge https://haydonwick.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/a0376287-062e-47ed-8bff-c66f5ed6e2fc.png 852 639 Liz Matthews Liz Matthews https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3c218b56a6fa3d8df354fa71beb70533e452920ca3bf5dad7bf5eacb9ca1ed8c?s=96&d=mm&r=g 20 August 2025 25 August 2025

Haydon Wick Parish Council’s Memory Cafe received a generous donation of £400.00 on Friday 15th August, thanks to the collaborative efforts of John Bridgeman from Rusland School of Cookery and Chris Biggs from the Highworth Masonic Lodge.

The donation stems from proceeds raised at John’s annual summer barbecue, where ticket sales were dedicated entirely to supporting the vital work of the Memory Cafe. John, who has been actively involved with the Memory Cafe, has previously hosted engaging activities including bread making and fairy cake decorating sessions for residents living with dementia and their companions.

These hands-on activities have proven particularly beneficial for Memory Cafe participants, combining sensory elements with cognitive skills while evoking cherished memories from the past and childhood. Most importantly, they create valuable connection opportunities between residents and their companions – moments that can sometimes be challenging to achieve in day-to-day living.

“The activities John provides are wonderful for our residents, offering a perfect blend of engagement that helps people living with dementia connect with their past while creating new positive experiences with their loved ones” said Councillor Rebecca Ross, Chair of Community Development Committee.

John said “A worthy cause that I have had the pleasure of contributing to in a small way offering my skills as a Chef. I have seen the numbers grow with attendees proving it is a much-needed facility that is close to my heart having watched both my parents struggle during their time with us. As a Freemason we can offer support for this work to continue.”

The generous donation from Rusland School of Cookery and Highworth Masonic Lodge exemplifies the power of community collaboration in supporting vital local services.

This partnership demonstrates how local businesses and organisations can make a meaningful difference in the lives of some of our most vulnerable community members.

Haydon Wick Parish Council’s Memory Cafe extends its heartfelt gratitude to John from Rusland School of Cookery and Chris Biggs from the Highworth Masonic Lodge for their continued support and commitment to improving the lives of people living with dementia and their families.

The Memory Cafe provides a welcoming, supportive environment for people living with dementia and their companions, offering tailored activities, social connection, and vital support services to the local community.

For more information about Haydon Wick Parish Council’s Memory Café, please contact: memorycafe@haydonwick.gov.uk.