Serendipity

May 19, 2013 by diggingfordementia 1 Comment

Hi, everyone!

 

Apologies for the lack of recent updates. Things have been plodding along nicely at Digging for Dementia HQ; I’m still searching for another plot of land, after the original plot was lost, and I’m hoping to be able to report some developments on that front soon! The project has taken some very exciting steps in the right direction in recent weeks, so I thought I’d share what’s been happening.

 

The project seems to be migrating naturally towards the Trafford/South Manchester area; quite a few of the recent events surrounding Digging for Dementia have led the project quite serendipitously in that direction! As I mentioned in my last update, I’ve been invited to speak about the project at one of the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Cafe sessions, which will be held in Trafford in July, and will provide a great opportunity to spread the word about the project in that area, and learn more about what people living with dementia would like to gain from Digging for Dementia.

 

There is also a very strong possibility that I’ll be working with a Trafford/South Manchester-based environmental organisation to deliver the Digging for Dementia sessions, as they’ve offered to recruit me on a voluntary basis and help me use their extensive resources to find a plot of land in South Manchester. I’ll continue to report on that development as often as possible, but I’m incredibly excited about it! The organisation in question is one of my favourites; they have a fantastic community-driven, local-level approach to environmental and sustainability initiatives, and after seeing some of their projects in action, I think they’d be a brilliant fit for Digging for Dementia.

 

Digging for Dementia has also been offered a stall at two events held by the Trafford-based animal rescue charity, the Society for Abandoned Animals. I’m really thrilled to be taking part in two of the charity’s events; they do absolutely incredible work caring for and re-homing abandoned animals in Manchester, and I’m very grateful to them for offering me a platform to spread the word about Digging for Dementia. I have some very exciting plans for the stall, and I think it’ll be a great way to raise awareness (and hopefully a few pennies!) for Digging for Dementia, and chat to people in the local area about the project. Please take a moment to visit the Society for Abandoned Animals website, and follow them on Twitter, to learn more about their wonderful work. And if you’re based in Manchester, have a gander at their events and volunteering pages, and see how you can support the SAA. Thank you!

 

Finally, I’d like to give a special thank-you to my lovely workmates, who started a collection pot for Digging for Dementia in our office and have raised £13.29 just from putting their spare change into the jar. The money raised from the collection will be used to pay for new leaflets for the Society for Abandoned Animals events, as the leaflets I previously purchased have the details of the original Digging for Dementia land, and are therefore out of date. D’oh! I really am endlessly grateful to everyone who’s supported Digging for Dementia so far, whether by offering land, or a platform from which to promote the project, or by taking part in fundraising events, or by simply spreading the word online and through Twitter. I could never have anticipated that the project would develop as quickly as it has, and it’s largely due to the support and hard work of everyone who’s pitched in to help launch Digging for Dementia. I’m so excited to find a new plot of land and show you all that your support has achieved!