Caerphilly High Streets continue to become ‘Dementia Friendly Places’

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Town Centre Management Team has produced a ‘Digital Memory Book’ as part of the successful ‘Choose the High Street’ Past & Present initiative. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The digital resource was recently unveiled at the Visitor Centre in Caerphilly; each book contains historic photos of Caerphilly, Blackwood, Bargoed Risca and Ystrad Mynach town centres taken from the collection held at the Winding House Museum. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Digital Memory Books will be used by local groups supporting people who are living with dementia and are the first part of a new initiative to promote town centres as ‘Dementia Friendly’ places. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ian Thomas, Dementia Friendly Community Coordinator from the Alzheimer’s Society said “ The Digital Memory Books are a fantastic resource which will really help to engage with people living with dementia; I’m delighted to work with the council’s Town Centre Management team in developing this initiative.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr. Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Sustainable Development said: “These digital memory books are a fantastic development for our local high streets. They’ll provide an important resource to community groups who work with those suffering with dementia and I hope they become widely used and are enjoyed by as many people as possible. The collection of historical images creates a fascinating, and often reassuring look at the past, bringing back some brilliant memories. I am pleased that Caerphilly County Borough Council continues to commit to ensuring our town centres are ‘Dementia Friendly Places’.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Groups who support those suffering with dementia can request a copy of the ‘Digital Memory Book’ by emailing retail@caerphilly.gov.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​