19th February 2026 • The HERALD • Page 55 v INDEPENDENT, LOCAL AND PROUD v WE CARE, YOU CARE Local Care Home Sets Out Ambitious Challenge To Create 50 New Dementia Friends Snowdrop Place, a care home in Hedge End has set itself an ambitious community challenge: to inspire and support 50 local people and business’ to become Dementia Friends by May, in time for Dementia Action Week. e purpose-built care home, which o ers residential and also specialist dementia residential care, is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme to deliver ve free training sessions for local residents and professionals. e initiative aims to raise awareness, increase understanding and empower people with practical knowledge on how to better support those living with dementia. Each free one-hour session will be delivered by local Dementia Friends Ambassador Val Downs and will provide an accessible introduction to dementia, helping attendees understand the condition, challenge misconceptions and learn simple but meaningful ways to make a di erence in everyday life. Laura Elgar, Home Services Advisor at Snowdrop Place, said: “I feel incredibly passionate about reaching as many people as possible from different walks of life in our local area. Dementia affects so many families, yet people often feel unsure how to help. By offering these short, accessible sessions, we hope to build confidence, understanding and compassion within our community. Our goal is to create 50 new Dementia Friends and we believe that by working together, those people can go on to create a ripple effect of positive change across neighbourhoods, communities, workplaces and beyond.” e ve free Dementia Friends sessions will take place at Snowdrop Place in Hedge End, Southampton on the following dates: • Monday 23rd February, 10.30am-11.30am. • Wednesday 4th March, 8.30am-9.30am. • Monday 23rd March, 3.30pm 4.30pm. • Monday 27th April, 10.30am-11.30am. • Monday 11th May, 11am-12noon. Local residents, professionals, businesses and community groups are encouraged to take part and help Snowdrop Place reach its 50-person target. If you’d like to attend, please call Laura Elgar to book on: 01489 772550 or email: laura.elgar@barchester. com To mark the success of the initiative, Snowdrop Place plans to host a celebratory garden party in May, inviting all participants back to the home to recognise their contribution, share experiences and celebrate the collective impact of becoming a more dementia-friendly community. Hythe Huddle Drop-in Group Hythe Huddle, the drop in support group for people living with dementia and their carers, organised by Families Matter, meet on the first Wednesday of each month from 2pm to 4pm at Cornerstone URC, Hythe SO45 6BR. Activities are planned throughout the year including arts and cra s, entertainment and games. Hythe Huddle sessions also provide advice, community and support. eir next meeting is on Wednesday 4th March for Easter Cra . Refreshments are available, kindly donated by Tesco. For more information call: 023 8020 7623 or email: o ce.fm.hurc@gmail.com Computers at Home Service Age Concern New Forest run a Computers at Home Service, with 3 volunteers providing a 1-to-1 service for clients needing help to gain more con dence or knowledge with their mobile phones, iPads, tablets, laptops and computers. e volunteers provide a 1 hour session at a subsidised cost of £5 and a maximum of 6 sessions can be booked. Please phone their O ce on: 023 8084 1199 or email: o ce@ageconcernnewforest.org.uk for more information or to request this service.
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