Summary
The Beacon Club delivered a day centre for older people living with dementia and for those who are socially isolated. Each member has an allocated set day that they attend and are picked up and dropped off via minibus, accompanied by one of our team as escort. Each day members are welcomed with a cup of tea and toast before an activity in the morning, a break for a freshly prepared 2 course lunch from our cafe and another activity in the afternoon. These include creative and mentally stimulating arts and crafts as well as more physically stimulating activities such as, amongst others, seated exercise or bowls. The Beacon Club runs 2 days a week with 10 members a day. This allows the members' carers a regular weekly break that is a substantial period of time(5-6 hrs) where they can have some respite, explore their own interests and relax, knowing that their cared-for person is enjoying a supportive and fun day themselves. We know from feedback from our carers what a difference this makes in allowing them to enjoy that time away, free from worry and any guilt they say they would feel. We send each carer an email at the end of every day detailing what activities were undertaken alongside any specific notable updates regarding their cared-for person. This gives them the ability to share the experience with the member later on and also to be made aware of anything -positive or concerning that our staff team want to make sure they are aware of. As well as activities within the day centre at our Hub, throughout the year our members have also enjoyed trips out including amongst others a barge trip locally on the canal and a visits to a carvery. Alongside this we continued our partnership with Edinburgh International Festival's community team which not only included monthly activities involving musicians visiting the Hub but also their dementia-friendly concert at the Queen's Hall. This was again in part informed by their experiences with the Beacon Club and our members fed into some of the pieces of music that were played. As part of this we were invited to attend alongside members and carers who were keen to attend. It was a real highlight of the year as we joined so many others who may not usually get out to events like this.
What Space @The Broomhouse Hub has learned
As a project that has been running over 35 years we have always evolved and developed from our learnings, big and small, over time. The key thing for us has always been to listen and adapt to what our members and carers are telling us and to ask them the right questions at an appropriate time.
We always want to be led by the people that we support but we know that it is about doing this in the right way. This isn't a new learning but we know that it's not just about evolving the direct delivery over time but also the ways in which we involve carers and members to reflect the changing wider circumstances in which they live.
Impact on beneficiaries
For carers, what we hear time and time again is how much they value what the Beacon Club gives to them and their cared-for people.
Knowing that the Beacon Club is a project that focuses the day for our members on friendship, laughter and real engagement means that they can relax, take time for themselves in whatever way they need and know that their cared-for person isn't just "away for the day" - they're somewhere where they are valued and that they value hugely themselves.
Carers have told us that knowing how much our members get from the Beacon Club means that any guilt they may otherwise feel about not being with their cared-for person is gone. In our most recent feedback survey, all respondents said that the Beacon Club helps them feel better supported in sustaining their caring role. One carer told us, "As we all know - it’s very draining caring for a loved one with Dementia. On a Thursday we know we are free to do our own thing as she has company and a good meal and is well looked after."
Similarly, in our recent feedback, all the carers surveyed told us that they feel like they have more opportunities to enjoy life outside their caring role, with one carer telling us, "knowing that this is one day in the week where I don’t need to worry if my dad is ok. It allows me to do something for myself." For some carers - this might just mean the ability to have a day at work without outside worry about their cared-for person - something one carer was keen to highlight as being important to them whilst another said it gave her a regular slot in the week to do things around the house.
For our members they tell us how much the club means to them - when we had an activity recently that included a portion allowing for direct feedback of their experiences (positive or negative!) the responses were uniformly positive and enthusiastic. They spoke fondly of the camaraderie they feel with other members and how much the "happy atmosphere" makes a difference to them with one member telling us that she loves to come in "for the people and the gossip".
When so many of our members have experienced their worlds shrinking, the Beacon Club provides them with a space to enjoy themselves and connect with others - a number of our members said they feel that without the Beacon Club, they wouldn't get out the house or would be on their own all week. "It's better to have a laugh with real people than laugh at the TV alone" one member told us whilst another said "I never thought I'd make new friends at my age."
Similarly, carers told us how much they can see the impact of the Beacon Club on their loved-ones - saying that the positive impact lasts for a number of days beyond just the day members attend. One carer told us that her mum always "feels purposeful" after a day at the club and that attending has been "so good for her mental health".
And for themselves - carers tell us how important is is for their own wellbeing - not just in terms of feeling supported in their caring role but just happier in themselves. When we asked carers whether the Beacon Club had improved their wellbeing, one responded with "absolutely!!!!" and another told us that knowing their dad was engaged with activities and mixing with others made them much happier.
We know we can't solve all of the issues that our members and their carers face but the level of positive feedback shows us what a difference projects like ours can and do make to everyone involved all year round.