The 4RDA Blog

A Busy February With Parish Councils

24/2/2025

The past month has been quite a busy one!

• The Four Rivers AGM took place on Monday 3rd February at which, I gave a short presentation about my role, what I have been working on to date and the various types of support that I can offer to parish and town councils and other organisations in the Four Rivers area.

• I attended Shaugh Prior’s parish council meeting (05/02/25) and agreed to follow up after they have considered working towards becoming dementia friendly at their next meeting. At the suggestion of the councillors, I wrote a piece for the March parish magazine to let people know about the work of Four Rivers and also Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm. It has been agreed that I will contribute articles on a quarterly basis to the magazine. I have also arranged to visit a local resident in early March to provide advice and information about support available after a dementia diagnosis.

• Building on some previous work done, I met with Cllr Guy Pannell and Susanne Archard again in South Brent (11/02/25) to discuss lending some more support to the village to become dementia friendly. This initially included liaising with signage companies to obtain quotes for the creation of dementia friendly signage for the village, which Cllr Pannell will take for discussion at a forthcoming parish council meeting. Other types of support for the future were also discussed at the meeting.

• I attended Ugborough Parish Council’s meeting (12/02/25) and agreed to follow up after they have considered working towards becoming dementia friendly at their next meeting.

Other parish council meetings booked:

• I had planned to attend Ringmore Parish Council's meeting (18/02/25) but they requested that I attend their March meeting instead.

• Ivybridge (17/03/25)-I have been invited to attend their annual town meeting on with an information stand and the opportunity to talk to residents and councillors about the work of Four Rivers and Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm.

• Kingston (20/03/25)

• I had planned to attend Bickleigh Parish Council meeting (27/02/25) but this has been rescheduled to 27/03/25.

• Harford (07/05/23)

• Modbury-I heard back from the chair and at the moment they do not have a date arranged for a meeting of the dementia friendly working group they are planning as they are still currently in the process of organising and recruiting members.

• Following my attendance at Rattery Parish Council’ meeting in January, I have been advised that they were unfortunately unable to consider working towards becoming dementia friendly at their February meeting so it is on the agenda for their March one.

• I have continued with researching community groups, businesses, schools, churches and other organisations to approach to offer support to become dementia friendly in the various parish areas.