www.ascotareaalzheimers.co.uk
Triple A ( Ascot Area Alzheimers support group) Annual report for 2013/14
Who are we?
‘Triple A’ has been providing services to carers of and people with dementia since 1994 and has pioneered
new day opportunities for those with early onset dementia in order to offer respite to carers. We were
awarded the Queens Award for voluntary work in 2011 Triple A is a registered charity [number 1050362]
under the auspices of Heatherwood Hospital before it became part of HWPHT. Due to the change in the
services provided by Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospital Trust
(they no longer provide mental
health services) we have been informed that they can no longer support our organisation and we are faced
with the decision about our future structure. Do we establish ourselves as a separate charity or do we look
for another larger organisation to provide the structure.
Triple A maintains close links with the local Community Mental Health Teams for Older People and has a
Governor on the Berkshire Health Care Foundation Trust Council of Governors. Triple A also maintains close
links with Social Care Providers and representatives of the group attend conferences held by Bracknell Forest
Council which incorporates consultation about needs and services. Triple A is therefore very proactive with
new developments.
This is mutually beneficial for information sharing/gathering and support to the Triple A ‘members’ and
volunteers in providing valuable support.
Structure:
There is a committee of 10 people comprising the day care co-ordinators, volunteers as well as Chairman,
Secretary and Treasurer. Each of the activities (respite days, carers’ lunch, socials) has a named co-ordinator
and a group of specific volunteers for continuity and responsibility. We are always looking for new
volunteers to support our work.
Vision statement
Triple A has a strong emphasis on welcome, inclusion and mutual support. It provides a
place for friendship, support and essential respite for carers. The people at Triple A really care about each
other and look after each other. It is a flexible open organisation of like minded people from all walks of life
and their life experiences enhance the group. Being involved in local strategy and service development gives
a sense of empowerment. People form lifelong friendships and stay members long after their caring role
ceases. Our flexible services have developed from identifying unmet need and we strive to continue to do
this.
Catchment area: the group provides a service in the area of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
and Bracknell Forest but we do not turn away people in need and have 1 person from Wokingham and
another from north Surrey.
Volunteers:
Everyone who ‘works’ within Triple A is a volunteer. We have 23 volunteers who are mostly carers or excarers, mostly retired from work and each has a CRB/DBS check.
Volunteers use their own cars for taking ‘clients’ out and about on each of the ‘day opportunities ‘days for
which they are paid a contribution towards their petrol. Our volunteers are getting older and as with many
other voluntary groups it is a continual challenge to recruit new volunteers.
Services Provided by Triple A:
1. Day opportunities for people with dementia and providing much needed respite to Carers on 3 days each
week for 36 people ( average attendance each week is 32) and on one Sunday a month. We provide 156
days of respite in 12 months. Triple A has pioneered a non centre based form of “day care” as described
below for younger people with dementia and now this format is used for all ages. About half of the people
who take part in these days are deemed ‘early onset’ being under 65 when they join us.
During the week Triple A offers a unique experience for people with dementia by taking them out to a variety
of places to experience normal everyday activities within a group; activities offered are pub lunches, garden
centres, cinema, animal parks, walks by the Thames, museums, Winchester Cathedral, RHS Wisley, 10 pin
bowling ; really anything that volunteers’ imagination can think of how to spend a day. A recent visit to
Portsmouth and ‘The Victory’ was successful and so longer trips in a minibus are planned about monthly.
People who attend days out must be reasonably mobile and be able to walk a distance and get in and out of a
car. Once someone goes into a home, residential or nursing they no longer qualify to attend. Our service is to
give respite to carers for people living in their own home.
The Sunday group has now moved to Denis Pilcher House in Bracknell and provides day care so that carers
can have a break at the weekend with a mixture of indoor activities. On Sundays Keep mobile service is used
to bring people to the centre and a hot meal is provided by Heathlands residential care home.
2. Monthly support group meetings for carers: once a month on the third Thursday evening there is a carers
support meeting at Carnation Hall where carers can come, bringing the person they care for if they wish, to a
meeting to socialise, offer mutual support, share information and listen to a speaker on a variety of topics.
Snacks and drinks are provided. Speakers have come from many different places and include Bracknell Forest
Council , Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, Berkshire Carers, Consultant Psychiatrist, team leader from
the RBH Older peoples mental health liaison team. These meetings are lively and there are always lots of
questions put to the speaker and discussion around the topic.
3. Monthly lunch for carers: volunteers prepare and cook a lunch for up to 30 carers once a month, meeting
at Carnation hall. For £6 pp there is a main meal with glass of wine, dessert, cheese and biscuits and
tea/coffee. Carers can socialise with others who have similar experience and can exchange ideas,
information and offer mutual support. Some ex-carers continue to attend also. They have to arrange their
own transport for this lunch which is held between 12 noon and 2 pm. This is often the first contact the carer
has with the support group and general information is shared plus the Triple A programme
4. Social Activities: There are a variety of social activities: 88 attended the summer picnic, 35 – 40 people
attended Southill Park for Fawlty Towers and The Gondoliers our 2 theatre trips, 110 attended the
Christmas lunch and our Quizzes fill Carnation Hall twice a year with an attendance of 75-80 people.
5. Singing for Wellbeing: We are hoping to restart this by incorporating it on our Sunday day respite when
the volunteers are fit and well again. As it is now well known singing in an informal atmosphere is thoroughly
enjoyed by people with dementia and the familiar tunes and songs stimulate and give pleasure.
Charges: There is a contribution of £10 per day towards the cost of the days out, which is subsidised
substantially from charity funds. Residents of areas apart from Bracknell Forest and RBWM may attend days
out at the cost of £30.00 a day. There are no other charges unless the group has a special day out i.e.
Portsmouth and a visit to HMS Victory.
People who benefit from these services:
Most people who use the services come from Bracknell Council area with a few from Wokingham (self
funding), 1 from Surrey and 8 funded by RBWM.(Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead). Anyone can
make a referral but they mostly come from CPNs or Social Workers. Our Coordinator then visits the carer and
person with dementia and arranges for a suitable service for them. If we do not have anything suitable we
will try and find something that is. Up to 36 people with dementia take part in the weekly day opportunities
once or twice a week. Approximately 20-25 people attend lunches and meetings each month.
FUNDING:
Income
Grants Bracknell Forest
RBWM
BCFT
Total grants
Donations
Charges/contributions
Total
2010/11
Totals
Surplus/-deficit
2012/13
8,000
13,000
3,500
23,500
2,224
7,266
32,990
Expenditure
Direct costs [entry fees,lunches 37,522
Hall hire]
Volunteer costs
inc above
Admin
2011/12
434
37,956
-4,996
2013/14
Projected to year end
8000
13000
21,000
12,922
12,660
46,582
24,500
10,646
14,540
49,686
21000
5920
10478
37398
38,512
39,364
19438
inc above
12979
1,072
1,038
951
39,583
6,999
40,392
9,294
33368
4030
Fundraising:
We are constantly fund raising as the grants are not sufficient to support all the activities. Our 2 quizzes, and
regular raffles raise money from supporters. Donations come from bequests, money donated in lieu of
flowers at a funeral etc. As can be seen from the statement we have exceeded our income by our
expenditure this year thus using some of our surplus.
Anecdotal notes:
Some of those benefitting from Triple A support have been attending events since the group began; others
for 1, 2, 3 or 4 years with new people joining as they become aware of the group. CPNs and Social Workers
inform people about the group. Some people also are receiving input from the Council’s Adult Social Care
teams but most do not. Those who attend the day service often continue until they need to be cared for in a
nursing home.
Challenges for 2014/15
As can be seen from our financial statement our small surplus is diminishing and we face a possible reduction
in our funding from Councils who themselves are hard hit by their budget restraints. We cannot predict the
level of donations and we spend much energy on fund raising.
This coming year offers us a new challenge as we decide whether to register ourselves as a charity and
appoint Trustees. We need some more support on our management committee. We have enjoyed the
support and ‘protection’ of Heatherwood Hospital Charities support and it seems a little daunting to ‘stand
alone’. However, with the continued support of our members, our 3 local Councils, the BHFT and the many
others in our area we are sure we will meet this challenge and continue to provide a good quality unique
service to carers and people with dementia in our area.