December 21 2017

Alzheimer’s Support has received the ‘best Christmas present ever’ after being awarded up to £50,000 towards its new Dementia Centre.

The grant from the Wolfson Foundation will cover much of the costs of transforming The Old Silk Works in Warminster into a new Dementia Centre and day club.

Chief Executive Babs Harris said: “This is brilliant news. It really is the best Christmas present we could have wished for. We are so grateful to the Wolfson Foundation for supporting this project. Work is already underway on the building and we have had fantastic community support, but this finally makes our dream a reality.”

When fully renovated, The Old Silk Works will provide a purpose-designed day club and activity rooms as well as bases for the charity’s specialist staff and meeting space for the community.

Babs said: “Opening a dementia centre in Warminster has been a dream of ours for many years. The first floor of this beautiful Victorian building offers everything we need, and will give us a base from which to provide much-needed support to people living with dementia and their carers across south west Wiltshire.”

'Creative and compassionate'

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation said: “The Wolfson Foundation is a charity that supports excellence, including in healthcare.  Dementia is a growing health issue in the UK. It affects not only those suffering with it, but also their loved ones.  We were very impressed by this project: Alzheimer’s Support have shown very clearly that there is a significant need in south west Wiltshire, and have matched that with a very creative and compassionate response.”

Alzheimer's Support launched a local fundraising appeal last month to help equip the building in Beech Avenue and has already raised nearly £7,000 from a variety of sources including local fundraising. Around £33,000 is now still needed to help furnish and equip the new venue. 

How you can support our appeal