Dementia Wellbeing
Our Wellbeing services provide an opportunity for fun and friendship at our local, community-based activities and support groups.
Our Wellbeing services provide an opportunity for fun and friendship at our local, community-based activities and support groups.
Everything we offer is rooted in the knowledge that living well with dementia is possible when people are supported, included and empowered to be themselves. We also believe that everyone deserves the chance to live well with dementia, no matter their background, language or community. To find out more about how we are working to reach underserved communities, providing support where it’s needed most, click below.
If you’re living with dementia or supporting someone who is our Dementia Wellbeing Groups are here for you. Facilitated by our expert team of staff and volunteers, these groups offer friendly, welcoming spaces where people with dementia can connect with others, take part in meaningful activities and find support, all while sharing quality time together.
Most of our groups are designed for people with dementia and carers to attend together, offering shared experiences that strengthen relationships and provide a lift to the day.
We have a wide range of groups with activities across Dartford, Gravesham, Swanley, Medway and Swale, including:
Our memory cafés take place monthly in community venues across Kent. Relaxed and friendly, they offer a calm, informal place where people with dementia and their carers can meet others, share experiences and access helpful information, from legal advice to local services. Whether chatting over a cup of tea, taking part in light activities or listening to a guest speaker, they provide connection and reassurance. For many, a memory café becomes a trusted place to belong, among people who understand.
Support Near YouOur activity groups are all about shared experiences: doing something active, fun or creative in a safe and inclusive environment. From outdoor sessions like bowling, pétanque or horse therapy to indoor options like art and craft or pub games, there’s something to suit every interest and ability.
Activities are carefully chosen to support memory, mood and wellbeing and to bring a bit of joy into the week, helping keep minds active, spirits high and relationships strong. Designed for people with dementia and carers to take part together, these groups help shift the focus from daily challenges to shared enjoyment, giving everyone something positive to look forward to.
Some activity-based groups may require booking due to limited space. If a session is full, we’ll add you to the waiting list for the next one.
Our peer support groups provide an empowering space for people with dementia and carers to meet separately, allowing everyone to talk openly and connect with others who truly understand.
For people living with dementia: These groups offer a chance to share experiences, build confidence and speak freely with others who truly know what dementia is like. Attendees will gain new strategies, a sense of purpose and, most importantly, the reassurance that they are not alone.
Best suited to those who can process information, participate actively and engage in meaningful conversation. These are not respite sessions, but safe and supportive spaces for peer connection and mutual understanding. We assess each person before joining to make sure the group environment will meet their needs and offer real value
For carers: These groups offer connection, emotional support and the chance to learn from others walking the same path. Attendees can share, listen, laugh or just breathe, without judgment, helping to build resilience, strength and a renewed sense of identity.
Open to all carers: Support can be provided separately for the person living with dementia, subject to assessment so we can ensure the right staffing and safety support is in place.
Contact us for more informationOur Singing Back the Memories groups are filled with energy, warmth and connection: a fun and uplifting occasion where people with dementia and their carers can sing along together. These sessions are more than entertainment: they’re about identity, emotion and being present in a moment of shared joy. Singing stimulates memory, supports communication and raises the mood for everyone. Even if words are hard to find, music often reaches places conversation can’t, offering a powerful way to stay connected.
Some of our Dementia Wellbeing Groups are open by invitation only. This is not to exclude, but to ensure that each person attending is well suited to the group’s structure and purpose and will truly benefit from being there.
Young onset groups: Designed for people living with dementia under the age of 65 who are able to take part in conversations, follow topics with minimal support and engage independently in activities. These groups are not intended as respite for carers, but rather as focused, peer-based sessions that promote identity, empowerment and shared experience. We carry out a simple assessment before joining to ensure the group is the right fit and offers genuine benefit.
Harbour of Hope influencer group: Made up of people with lived experience who actively shape projects, influence services, and work with our partners to build a more dementia-inclusive community.
By thoughtfully managing group participation, we aim to create safe, supportive spaces that meet individual needs and allow everyone to get the most from the experience.
Carers’ learning group: Caring for a loved one with dementia can be both rewarding and overwhelming. Our carers’ learning group helps carers feel more informed, more confident and better supported as they navigate the journey alongside their loved one.
These four-week programmes are open to unpaid carers, either self-referred or referred by one of our Dementia Wellbeing Coordinators. Each weekly session runs for three hours and is led by a knowledgeable specialist in dementia care. Topics are designed to inform, empower and support, covering:
Understanding dementia and how it progresses
Responding to challenging behaviours
Legal aspects such as lasting power of attorney, wills and trust funds
Respite options and planning for future care
Exploring care homes and end-of-life support
How to live well – for people with dementia and carers alike.
If you are an eligible carer and a course is coming to your area, your Dementia Coordinator will send you an invitation with all the details, or you can ask them to make a referral for you. Beyond the structured learning, these sessions provide an opportunity to connect with other carers, share experiences and build friendships in a safe, welcoming and non-judgmental space. By the end of the programme, you’ll not only have valuable tools and insights, but also a new network of people who truly understand what you’re going through.
To find out more about what’s in your area, visit our Find support near you page. If you are interested in any of these groups, or if you have any queries, please get in touch.
