“My thoughts about the makings of an effective group”

Hello, it’s Gina from Liverpool.  I’ve tried to put my thoughts together about the makings of an effective group, so here goes.  

To be effective our group communicates effectively and well.  And it is very inclusive, as in we have people living with dementia and their carers, and they are all welcome to join our committees and groups.  Groups meet frequently, including sub-groups who feed into our main groups, and that also includes obviously our carers.  We meet frequently, including the sub-groups, while remaining inclusive.  We also take ideas from the members and carers.  As well as this we include key people who are able to provide information- for example council members, the Alzheimer’s Society.  We also have architects, GP’s, staff from our local hospitals and care homes.

We are also outreaching with making short films which are available usually on the internet, and YouTube, nationally.  And some of our supporters are actually film-makers.  And that is absolutely brilliant for us because we have got to know them, they have got to know us, and they have learned quite a lot from us I think about how to help get the best out of people.  Yes so some of those people are part of our alliance.  Also we have formed an alliance with a local theatre in Liverpool- the Playhouse Theatre- and we are linked with a local dance group- the MDI, it’s a dance group in Liverpool.  All of these activities contribute to reducing stigma, because we are working right across the board with people from different places in society.  They are learning from us as much as we are learning from them.  That I think is how you do reduce stigma because we are as one when we are working together.  

The other outlet we have is that we have a local TV station who often invite us to come and talk- about specific topics usually.  And we are able to articulate our thoughts.  They understand that we are able to articulate our thoughts albeit sometimes a bit slowly, slower than television people are used to.  But they adjust to that and you know we are very grateful for that.  It is important to ensure our activities include all abilities and levels of understanding and most importantly we have lots of fun and look out for each other.  

We also have fantastic support from our NHS hospital at Mossley Hill where the staff go the extra mile, do fundraising for trips and treats as well as for larger events. We are also involved in the human rights groups which come together regularly and I believe that by maintaining our high profile help reduce stigma.  And we really do have a lovely time.  We have a real understanding between us and people who don’t belong to our groups, or who, maybe they are care-workers, they see that and they respond to it.  And that is what makes a fantastic relationship, and makes life easier and better for us and for them.

Thanks a lot, I hope that’s ok.  Bye!

Dementia Diaries would like to thank Charlotte Pyke for transcribing this report.