Staffordshire friendship group marks second anniversary
More than thirty people had a good time at a special event to mark the second anniversary of a Staffordshire friendship group set up for families affected by memory loss.
Burntwood's Magnolia Friends was set up to provide sessions for residents and relatives living with memory loss and dementia for them or carers to meet others and have social time in a fun space.
The group meets every Thursday at Burntwood Memorial Hall, in Rugeley Road, in Burntwood near Lichfield and offers a relaxed atmosphere, friendship, an emotional support to help reduce the feelings of isolation often experienced by those with memory loss issues.
The organisers say the aim is to keep the person suffering from dementia conditions active as long as possible to maintain their skills and independence for longer.
Founders Karen Hurmson, Sue Bevington, Dawn Roberts and Janet Williams all previously worked at dementia-related services and launched the group after spotting a gap in community provision available.
They are supported by around 14 volunteers and there around 30 regular group members.
Karen Hurmson, of the group, says: "We have been blown away with all the support we have had from many sources including the Burntwood Rotary, Bloxwich Golf Club and local company Techcare who have covered our room hire for a year.
"It is supporters like these who make our mission possible and we are so lucky to have them standing with us. Over the past year Magnolia Friends have been to see the Girls' and Boys' Brigade perform Aladdin, we had the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue join us in February while the Good Company Singers put on a concert for us which was open to the general public to attend and was our fundraising event for the year.
"We would also like to thank everyone who has supported us."
Other events included the group taking part in the third Dementia Friends Burntwood walk, a meal at Nags Head pub, in Rugeley Road, a skittles morning, pupils from the area's Fulfen Primary School have been regular visitors providing music performances and invited the group to the school's garden party. Trips included visits to the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, seaside trip to Llandudno, to the Aldridge Transport Museum, and the Lichfield Garrick Theatre's pantomime.
Guest speakers included representatives from Staffordshire's Citizen's Advice service who gave a talk about benefits and energy bills advice.
Weekly activities include words searches, quizzes, and sometimes guest speakers or entertainers, seated exercise and a sing-a-long.
And over the festive period the group made decorations for Christmas trees in Burntwood Library and Lichfield Cathedral.
The group has also been supported by coach company Oh Travel, Burntwood Council, Burntwood Rotary, Dementia Friends, the Alzheimer's Society, Support Staffordshire and Burntwood Memorial Hall. It said it was looking forward to running the activities in 2026
