Published 17th May 2021 by

Do you support a family member or friend who is living with dementia? Do you love being outdoors?

Getting out into nature together doesn’t have to stop with a diagnosis of dementia. And the Monument Project want your views in one of their focus group sessions on 19 May.

The Monument Project is a new innovative pilot project which focuses on supporting those who provide unpaid support to people living with dementia to access green spaces and improve their wellbeing.

The project is currently recruiting people supporting those living with dementia to a focus group to discuss the current barriers accessing outdoor green spaces and to identify solutions to how the Monument project can be used to improve this.

The first digital* focus group sessions will take place on Wednesday 19 May with two times to choose from – 10.30am or a later one at 6pm. They are expected to last up to 60-90 minutes and will be recorded.

Other opportunities to be involved will include peer support sessions, training sessions; testing new assistive technology and the chance to hear first about new dementia-friendly outdoor leisure activities. Any involvement, however small, is welcome.

A label of dementia doesn’t have to mean less adventure. If you support someone who loves being outside and has memory difficulties, then the Monument would love to hear from you.

If you would be interested in finding out more about being involved they would be delighted to hear from you, please email monument@norfolk.gov.uk or call the team (Covering Norfolk and Norwich based is Laura: 01603 303378 or covering Norfolk and Gt Yarmouth based call Rachel: 01603 223146).

*Please note due to Covid-19 restrictions on face-to-face contact, the focus groups will be limited to digital only for the time being.

The Monument Project is led locally by the Environment Service at Norfolk County Council with funding from the Interreg 2 Seas Programme 2014-2020, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.