Published August 26th, 2022
Appleby Westward, which owns or manages all SPAR stores in the South West, has announced its successful Community Cashback recipients, who have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to local communities.
Prama Life, a charity based in Poole, Dorset was one of the chosen recipients, and received a grant of £1,000.
The charity aims to support older people with dementia and prevent isolation. With a network of 17 support groups, Prama Life encourages a positive mindset and actively promotes personal independence and self worth.
Through activities provided by trained staff members and volunteers, participants can experience handling common place objects, listen to different sounds or music, sing, take part in physical exercise, and much more. The group then gives individuals space to describe how they are feeling, or what memory a certain activity may have sparked.
Christopher Wakefield, a fundraiser for the charity, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received the £1,000 from SPAR. It was a wonderful scheme to be able to apply for, and we are very grateful for the opportunity.
“I have one of the most wonderful jobs in the world, watching clients remember something in a session, and watch a memory come back to them. It is a superb feeling, and we can now look at ways to continue improving our resources.”
Prama Life will be using the money to access a greater range of reminiscence materials, which is used in sessions to prompt a memory. The charity supports anyone who is considered to be experiencing memory loss, not just those with a formal diagnosis.
Nick Vivian, head of marketing at Appleby Westward, said: “We were pleased to donate a grant to Prama Life as it is a life line for many people in the Dorset area. The organisation’s positive outlook on growing older is inspirational, and something that we are grateful to support.
“The Community Cashback scheme has been a success not only because we have been able to contribute £20,000 to various groups and centres throughout the South West, but it has enabled us to become more aware of the fantastic work people are doing for their communities.”
The scheme is part of SPAR’s greater efforts to bring its customers together. For more information on this, and other ‘Nurture Our Neighbours’ initiatives, visit: https://www.spar.co.uk/community/.
For more information about Prama Life’s services, please head to the website: https://www.pramalife.org/.
