Acts of kindness the inspiration behind Shifnal Forget-Me-Not group

When Sarah Thorpe went with her father, who had developed dementia, to his local shop to pay the newspaper bill she was so impressed by the way he was helped and served that she realised what a transformation just little acts of kindness could make.

Sarah, wife of Reverend Chris Thorpe, the vicar of St Andrew's Church in Shifnal, saids: "It was at the stage where dad was still going out and about and when he paid his paper bill, he always bought his favourite custard creams. I went with him one day and somehow the woman who served him made it such a lovely transaction and it made me realise what a difference that made.

"She absolutely met him where he was and she might never have known how significant that was. And it made me think I bet there are people in church who would also make that simple connection."

The idea of Forget-Me-Not was born and now the group has been up and running for eight months and includes people with dementia and those caring for them.

The group, which now meets monthly at St Andrew's Church, is involved in next month's Dementia Awareness Week.

There will be a display in Shifnal library, a stall at the Farmers' Market, while on Wednesday evening a workshop at St Andrew's including early signs of dementia and on Thursday morning, Sarah will run a dementia awareness session.

The idea is to make people realise that connecting with and including those with memory challenges, is often achieved in very simple ways.

While volunteers provide tea and cakes for whoever turns up and there is an ongoing invitation to all who want to help make Shifnal a more dementia-friendly community.

"I think the future is just more of the same. I'm a great 'volunteer' believer and in keeping it simple and keeping to the grass roots," Sarah said.

For more information, call 01952 463694 .