The miserable weather failed to dampen the high spirits at the Dementia Matters in Powys Summer Games on Thursday, August 8.

The Dementia care charity successfully organised a day of fun, food and entertainment for all to enjoy at Llanddewi Hall with the support of the National Lottery Funding.

This was the fourth annual Summer Games organised by Dementia Matters in Powys, and this year’s theme of the games was colour.

All games, quizzes and competitions helped competitors to gain points to contribute to an overall score for each person in their own version of the Olympics.

Traditional games included quoits, splat the rat, welly wanging, and feed the pig. It is believed that activities, such as this, help to stimulate the mind and help to slow its decline in people with dementia. 

The award for the Winning Member was John from Welshpool meeting centre. Winning Carer went to Owen from Newtown meeting centre.

Winning volunteer team went to ‘The Travellers,’ made up of two trustees and one of their wives. The Winning Meeting Centre of the day was Newtown, who took the title off Brecon meeting centre this year.

The Winning Visiting Team was PAVO. The Star of the day was awarded to Richard from Brecon Meeting Centre. Most colourfully dressed was well and truly deserved for Sue Hodgetts.

The Winning Artwork award went to Ceinwen from Newtown and Welshpool meeting centres, and the Welly Wanging  Award went to Nick and Gwen.

Following the games, everyone was catered for with a hot meal being provided. Entertainment was provided through a rendition of multiple songs including a few Tom Jones classics for members to sing along to.

Awards were then handed out, before the closing ceremony, where all members sang the Welsh national anthem.

Chief Officer for Dementia Matters in Powys, Deborah Gerard told The Brecon & Radnor Express all about this year’s Summer Games experience. She said: “It was really good to have groups from all of our meeting centres attending from Brecon, Llandrindod Wells, Newtown and Welshpool. It’s all about the meeting centres coming together and giving them the opportunity to get together for the day.

“We couldn’t do it without the support of the National Lottery Community Funding Wales. For the past four years we’ve had a National Lottery grant and we’d really like to continue our partnership with them to make the summer games an annual event. We hope to make it even bigger and to see more families and friends and members of the community to come.

“This year we had a lot of support from volunteers, Llanddewi village and the hall committee. We’ve also had a lot of support from local businesses with the catering, which was well received, our trophies as always were brilliant. We couldn’t do it without all this wonderful support.

“The Summer Games replicates the ethos of the meeting centres by bringing people together, sharing support and information and providing socialisation as well as activities that bring some fun to it all.”

Dementia Matters in Powys follow the Dutch model for dementia care that originated over 20 years ago. The model has proven to be outstanding in its ability to care for people living with dementia, concentrating on socialisation and stimulation.

The meeting centres operate in Brecon, Llandrindod Wells, Newtown and Welshpool. If you would like more information on the meeting centres, please contact Dementia Matters in Powys by visiting their website: https://www.dementiamatterspowys.org.uk

Dementia Matters in Powys are also on the lookout for more volunteers and volunteer trustees too.