Southend-on-Sea dementia support group saved despite cuts

The group meets for two hours a week, offering carers and men with dementia a chance to socialise and relax

A support group for partners who care for men with dementia has been saved - despite funding cuts.

About a dozen women and their partners meet every Tuesday at The Windermere club in Southend-on-Sea.

Andrea Levy has attended with her husband for two years and said they had put up a "good fight" to keep it open.

The council had planned to cease funding for the club but decided to provide support after a public consultation.

Andrea Levy says the group has been a "lifeline" for her and her husband

Some members of the group are full-time carers and have said the two-hour meet up is the only respite they get.

They were previously able to receive support from two 'dementia navigators' each week, however, Mrs Levy said only one has been attending due to cuts.

"Half of the navigators is not sufficient but it is better than nothing," she said, "and it means that this amazing club will remain and our lovely men get to feel like they are part of a community instead of feeling lost and alone.

"So it has been a good fight".

A public consultation was held by Southend-on-Sea City Council in February and the response showed that residents were concerned about losing the skills the dementia navigators offered.

Mark Harvey, the authority's executive director for adults and communities, said: "To ensure a balanced budget for 2024-25, the council had to review its service offer across all departments.

"The dementia community support service originally covered Southend, Castle Point and Rochford.

"Following the decision by partners to cease their share of funding of this service we needed to look at the long-term viability."

However, he added: "This feedback has helped to shape the expansion of our new prevention service with the addition of four Dementia Navigators and one Community Builder, retaining some of the expert knowledge that residents valued within this new service.

"We will also be offering four clubs to ensure that all localities across the City can benefit from this local offer.

"Whilst we have now closed the Dementia Community Support Service resulting in £50,000 of savings, we have responded to feedback from the public consultation with new investment to expand our new prevention service... to support anyone in our city living with or supporting someone with dementia."