Award for University students helping dementia sufferers
Posted on 5 December 2008
Hull York Medical School students Anna Brassington, Katie Brice and Omah Rahman began the ‘Minds in Motion’ project 18 months ago after becoming concerned at the lack of support available to people suffering from dementia and those who look after them.
The most rewarding aspect of Minds in Motion is the benefits it brings to dementia sufferers and their carers
Katie Brice
The project now involves regular visits by volunteers to three local daycare and residential units offering activities ranging from arts and crafts and music therapy to simple conversation.
Minds in Motion also runs a monthly ‘Harmony Café’ at a church in York in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Society for dementia sufferers and their carers. The free café offers food and entertainment provided by students, as well as an opportunity for people in similar situations to swap experiences.
The project has now won a Student Award at the Higher Education Volunteering Awards which celebrate the volunteering work done by university staff and students at universities across the country. The judges described Minds in Motion as "outstanding" and praised it for "working in an under-recognised and under publicised area".
Katie Brice, one of the award winners, said: "It is nice to be recognised with this award but the most rewarding aspect of Minds in Motion is the benefits it brings to dementia sufferers and their carers.
"We were worried that this group of people was at risk of social isolation and were not getting a lot of support and this project is our attempt to address that.
"The café has been running six months and it is great to see people coming together who didn’t know each other before and who are now becoming good friends.”
The students were presented with their award at a ceremony at Manchester United Football Club on Tuesday. Their project was one of 18 winners selected from nominations for more than 750 volunteers.
Notes to editors:
- Minds in Motion is supported by The University of York Community fund, The York Common Good Trust, The Sylvia and Colin Shepherd Charitable Trust, The Norman Collinson Charitable Trust, York University Students' Union and Hull York Medical School.
- The Higher Education Volunteering Awards are funded by the Higher Education Academy. Details of the awards and the Academy are available at www.heva.org.uk/2008.
- Further information about Hull York Medical School can be found at www.hyms.ac.uk. Anyone interested in supporting Minds in Motion or getting involved should email mindsinmotion@yusu.org.