Trustees of Honiton Memory Cafe were delighted to receive their Quality Assurance Mark for memory cafes last week.

Awarded by the Devon Memory Cafe Consortium, the mark helps build confidence and awareness among health professionals and the public about the range and quality of health and wellbeing activities and services that can be accessed through the Memory Cafe in Honiton.  

On behalf of the awards panel, quality award assessor Anja Kroening-Maynard said, "Congratulations to Honiton Memory Café for achieving the Devon Memory Café Consortium Quality Assurance Mark for memory cafes providing health and wellbeing  services and activities in Devon. Honiton Memory Café runs a range of fantastic and well run services which make a huge difference to people living with dementia and their carers. We recognise all the hard work and dedication that has gone in to create and run all the wonderful activities and I am so pleased that through the Quality Mark this can be recognised publicly.”

Councillor Tony McCollum and Mayor of Honiton who was invited to the presentation said: "On behalf of Honiton Town Council and myself, congratulations on your much deserved Quality Assurance Mark. We appreciate all the hard work, time and effort that has been put into achieving this very high standard require to receive this mark. Well done to all involved."

Established 14 years ago Honiton Memory Cafe is a volunteer-led community group that offers an informal and friendly meeting place for people with memory problems and their family and friends.  With about 50 members the social side is probably the most important aspect of the cafe providing the space to have a cuppa and cake, chat with friends and share what is going on for you with others in a similar situation. A regular attender reflecting on what coming to Memory Cafe means to him said. “ It’s really nice to just be me and not worry about what others might be thinking of me and my wife”. 

Honiton Memory Cafe is one of the services provided by the charity Dementia Friendly Honiton, to find out more about their work including free dementia awareness sessions and fundraising to support Honiton Admiral Nurse visit their website dementiahoniton.org.uk, email Heather Penwarden penwarden@btinternet.com or phone Min, the cafe coordinator on 07789104601.