The Dementia Hwb has been situated in Swansea’s Quadrant Shopping Centre for the last two years.
Run by Dementia Friendly Swansea, it provides a drop-in space for those living with dementia and their loved ones or carers to access support.
With more than 4,500 visitors since its launch in January 2022, mobile hubs have now been launched in different areas across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.
Hannah Davies, founder of Dementia Friendly Swansea, said: “We hope to reach the people who perhaps aren’t able to come to the Quadrant, as well as those who may not have been in touch with support services before.
“Our aim at the Dementia Hwb is to pull together all of the different support services anyone affected by dementia may need.
“We hope we have an encyclopaedia of all the questions people might ask us.
“We try to cover everything from advice about how to get a diagnosis, right through to end of life care.
“We also signpost to different support that is available to people.”
The mobile hubs have been made possible through Prosperity Funding from Swansea Council for Voluntary Service and Neath Port Talbot Council for Voluntary Service, and funding from Community Foundation Wales.
The locations throughout Swansea are Tesco in Llansamlet, Clydach Library, Felindre Lliw Reservoir café, Tesco in Fforestfach, Canolfan y Bont in Pontarddulais, Llanmorlais Community Hall, Llanmadoc community shop, Beaufort Arms in Kittle, Gorseinon Library and Aenon Baptist Church in Morriston.
In Neath Port Talbot, they will be based in St Theodore’s Parish Hall inn Taibach, Glynneath Library, Seven Sisters Community Hall and Cymmer Library.
Another hub, similar to the one in Swansea’s Quadrant, has recently opened in Aberafan Shopping Centre too.
“We previously had a mobile hub at Tesco in Llansamlet and we recently ran one in Pontarddulais,” Hannah added.
“We are going to be continuing in those locations but adding more, including in Neath Port Talbot for the first time.
“The mobile hubs will be running until the end of 2024.”
Hannah said the majority of visitors to the Dementia Hwb in Swansea city centre had referred to the support available as being extremely helpful.
“We always have a staff member from Dementia Friendly Swansea or a volunteer available to listen, and they normally have their own experience of dementia,” she said.
“We have always received exceptional feedback that what we provide has been helpful for people.
“It’s all about including people’s views and co-producing what we offer to people with dementia.”
It is hoped that even more people will make use of the support on offer with the mobile hubs being based closer to people’s homes.
Dr James Kerrigan, Llwchwr Local Cluster Collaborative lead and a GP at Ty’r Felin Surgery in Gorseinon, said: “We are delighted to welcome the mobile dementia hwb to two locations within the Llwchwr LCC locality.
“They will enable those affected by or caring for friends or relatives with cognitive impairment to access vital information and support within their local communities without having to travel to the centre of Swansea.”
(Lead image: Swansea Bay NHS)
