About Us
Aims
- To share ideas and develop resources and partnership projects
- To build dementia friendly communities and villages in the Four Rivers area
- To promote good practice by raising awareness of dementia within our communities,
- To encourage inclusivity and reduce the stigma and lack of knowledge about dementia.
Background
The Four Rivers Dementia Alliance (4RDA) was originally conceived by the innovators of Dementia Friendly Parishes around the Yealm. The success of that organisation encouraged them to expand the idea to work with Ivybridge town and 19 surrounding rural parishes, bordering not only the Yealm but also the rivers Plym, Erme, and Avon. Many people are involved in both groups.
A small start up grant was awarded by South Hams District Council, plus a contribution from a local Rotary Club and Grapevine Transport. With advice and support from South Hams CVS, the 4RDA set out to work with rural parishes and Ivybridge Town Council, in order to improve the lives of people living with dementia, their families, and carers.
Conferences
The first conference was held in 2016 at The Watermark in Ivybridge with the help of South Brent & District Caring, to publicise the existence of the group and to identify needs in the local communities.
A second conference in 2018 - 'Let's Talk About Dementia in Our Communities' – had some key speakers; Sir Gary Streeter, MP; Ian Sherriff, BEM, Academic Lead for Dementia
at Plymouth University; Dr Edmund Jack, G.P.; and Heather Penwarden,
President of the Devon Federation of WIs. It gave us the chance to assess the progress of establishing local dementia friendly communities and to receive suggestions and requests for expanding our aims.
Our latest conference took place on 25 March 2022 at The Watermark in Ivybridge. Guest speakers included: Sir
Gary Streeter M.P. Ian Sherriff B.E.M. of Plymouth University, Hilary
Cragg, Partner at Nash & Co and Ben Kerswell of the Argyle Community
Trust. Other speakers included Ella Peters, Development Worker at the time for the
4RDA, and members of the 4RDA as well as Maxine Kennedy from Dementia
Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm and Jane Sullivan from South Brent
Caring. There were over 100 attendees at the conference with issues
discussed from Government social and economic initiatives, the latest
research into dementia and projects in progress to communities'
initiatives and actions, the current legal stance on supporting people
with dementia as well as personal stories of caring for a relative
living with dementia. Download the Conference Programme (pdf).
National Lottery
We made a successful application for a grant in 2020 from the 'Awards for All' programme that enabled us to employ a part-time Development Worker for one year initially, to further our aims by working with local organisations and councils. Currently, we have put forward a bid to extend the programme for an additional two years starting in mid 2024.
Join Us
The 4RDA is an inclusive voluntary organisation. Anyone interested in improving the lives of people living with dementia their families and carers is welcome at our meetings held every 6 weeks. Come along and find out more about us, tell us what you have to offer in support or services, or suggest ways to advance our aims, or tell us of your concerns and what you need in your communities.
The Team
Liz Hitchins
(Chair)
Tel: 01752 880715
Liz is the Chair of the Four Rivers Dementia Alliance, and Chair and founder member of Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm. Liz is passionate in promoting dementia friendly communities through parish and town councils under their 'Health and Well-being' agendas to ensure that people living with dementia and their families continue to be actively involved in their communities throughout their dementia journey.
Liz contributed to the ’Dementia Friendly Communities Guide’ recently published by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC). Liz is very keen to support all councils and local organisations i.e. faith groups, WI, community groups, businesses, in leading the development of dementia friendly communities in their own villages and neighbourhoods.
Liz contributed to the ’Dementia Friendly Communities Guide’ recently published by the National Association of Local Councils (NALC). Liz is very keen to support all councils and local organisations i.e. faith groups, WI, community groups, businesses, in leading the development of dementia friendly communities in their own villages and neighbourhoods.
Steven Parker Davidson
(Treasurer)
Steven is Treasurer of the Four Rivers Dementia Alliance and a Diptford Parish Councillor. Steven joined the Four Rivers Dementia Alliance following a request for Parish Council representation in the organisation in 2017.
Steven’s mother had Alzheimer’s and he realised, through supporting her, that there was a need for people living with dementia and their families or carers to avoid increasing isolation and become actively involved in and embraced by their local communities. Steven has been impressed by the opportunities created through the Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm initiative, and would like to see versions of this model adapted to the local community, championed throughout the South Hams, and facilitated with help from the Four Rivers Dementia Alliance.
Steven’s mother had Alzheimer’s and he realised, through supporting her, that there was a need for people living with dementia and their families or carers to avoid increasing isolation and become actively involved in and embraced by their local communities. Steven has been impressed by the opportunities created through the Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm initiative, and would like to see versions of this model adapted to the local community, championed throughout the South Hams, and facilitated with help from the Four Rivers Dementia Alliance.
Claire Puckey
(Community Liaison & Support Lead)
Email: development@4riversdementia.org.uk
Claire has worked in a wide variety of settings across the charity, health and statutory sectors providing care and supporting vulnerable people of all ages. She was the Dementia Friendly City Coordinator for Plymouth City Council and the Plymouth Dementia Action Alliance Coordinator for eight years. Claire has been working in the South Hams as Community Development Lead for Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm since October 2023 and in October 2024 was also appointed as Community Liaison and Support Lead for the Four Rivers Dementia Alliance.
Claire is very committed to supporting communities to work towards become dementia friendly so that the people living with dementia and their families in them, feel heard, included, involved and supported to continue doing what they want to do for as long as possible
Claire is very committed to supporting communities to work towards become dementia friendly so that the people living with dementia and their families in them, feel heard, included, involved and supported to continue doing what they want to do for as long as possible
Linda Pearce
(Secretary)
Linda takes meeting notes for the Four Rivers Dementia Alliance (4RDA) and supports the Chair with secretarial tasks. Linda joined the 4RDA in 2022 whilst working as an Area Coordinator for the Filo Project in the South Hams.
Lindas's mother-in-law has vascular dementia, and it was through supporting her that she developed an interest in dementia and the need to provide meaningful social opportunities for those living with dementia. This led to Linda becoming a day-care host for the Filo Project in 2019. In this role she provided opportunities for people living with dementia to socialise in small groups, enjoy the beautiful South Hams scenery, a home cooked lunch and activities with others. This raised her awareness of the social isolation that exists in the South Hams for those living with dementia and their carers, and the need for the work that the 4RDA does to address this.
Lindas's mother-in-law has vascular dementia, and it was through supporting her that she developed an interest in dementia and the need to provide meaningful social opportunities for those living with dementia. This led to Linda becoming a day-care host for the Filo Project in 2019. In this role she provided opportunities for people living with dementia to socialise in small groups, enjoy the beautiful South Hams scenery, a home cooked lunch and activities with others. This raised her awareness of the social isolation that exists in the South Hams for those living with dementia and their carers, and the need for the work that the 4RDA does to address this.