Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support

Imagine living in a world where routine tasks such as brushing your teeth are a daily struggle or where your livelihood is affected because you can’t remember how to carry out your job – sadly, this is the stark reality of life for people suffering from dementia, a debilitating and socially-isolating condition that affects the brain’s ability to process information, leaving sufferers in a state of confusion and disarray.  Fortunately, support is available through BIADS - Barnsley Independent Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support - which helps people affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s, their carers, family and friends in the local community. (99)

BIADS, one of JCI Barnsley’s charity partners this year, was established in 2010 by two local ladies, Pam Evans and Linda Pattison, who set up their own charity organisation to ensure that Barnsley people affected by dementia would benefit directly from financial donations pledged in their home town.  The charity provides information, advice and emotional support, as well as services, events and activities that give an opportunity to meet with other people in the same situation.  The full range of services and activities is as follows:

Services for people with dementia

• Activity group
• Befriending
• Jabadao – developmental movement play

Services for carers

• Befriending
• Carer support
• Carer support group

Services for people with dementia and their carers

• Circle dancing
• Dementia cafés
• BIADS singers
• Holidays, social events and day trips
• Newsletter and information
• ‘Keeping in Touch’ club (for former carers)

BIADS has made great strides over the course of the last three years, collecting awards for Best Voluntary Service Provision in Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council’s Service Excellence Awards for two consecutive years in 2011 and 2012, and has recently been named as a national finalist in the Bevan Foundation Health and Wellbeing Awards 2014 – a wonderful testimony to everyone involved! 

JCI Barnsley is supporting BIADS this year because Ben Hawley, our 2014 President, has first-hand experience of the devastating effects of dementia after seeing his grandmother’s health deteriorate as a result of the disease.  Walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise funds for BIADS earlier this month was an appropriate way to honour Ben’s grandmother’s memory and show our support for the fantastic work that the charity does to help people affected by dementia in the local community.

Emma Labedzki 
2014 Community Director