Moments Café and Dementia Hub, a Plymouth-based social enterprise, has received £4,000 of matched funding from Santander’s new Changemaker Fund to finish its new dementia friendly café and hub in the city centre.
The Fund, which was launched at the end of last year as part of an innovative collaboration between a bank and a rewards-based crowdfunding platform, is designed to help social enterprises, small charities and community groups deliver projects that improve communities and help disadvantaged people to have confidence in the future.
The Moments Café, supported by the Memory Matters charity, will offer those with dementia a safe and supportive environment to learn more about the disease without the stigma associated with the condition. The bistro café will be open to all members of the public and will include decade timelines around the walls, especially designed decade zones, each with objects on display from those eras, and home-cooked food in a relaxed and comfortable environment.
The additional funding will enable the Moments Café to be built to the highest standards, and will mean that all profits from the café can be returned to provide services to those with dementia in the local community. This will ensure a sustainable service, that does not rely on grants and that therefore will not suddenly come to an end.
The space above the cafe will offer support services including a Dementia Information Space with advice and material on the condition, an Activity Room for day clubs and respite, as well as Consultation and Meeting Room where local organisations and services can offer support from legal advice clinics and benefits advice to dementia screening.
Sue Douthwaite, Managing Director of Santander Business Banking, commented: “We are so pleased to be able to support this new café which will offer much needed local services and support in a friendly, comfortable environment. We look forward to seeing how the café develops with the benefit of this funding.”
Laura Walker, Director of Memory Matters, commented: “Through the Changemaker fund we have been able to build and create a café to the best standards for our customers. The café will be a place of support and community for both those who suffer from the condition and their carers. We hope that people of all ages will be able to enjoy the café - children can enjoy its historic feel, students will enjoy the retro element and for others it will be a walk down memory lane.”
The new Changemaker Fund, www.crowdfunder.co.uk/changemaker, is part of Santander’s flagship community programme, The Discovery Project, which aims to inspire people to have confidence in the future through projects that build skills, grow knowledge and support innovation.
By working together with Crowdfunder, Santander aims to enable entrepreneurs and community groups to tackle social challenges and create positive local impact. Eligible projects seeking funding of up to £20,000 and focussed on skills, knowledge and innovation that get the crowd’s backing will receive 50% of their funding requirement from Santander to ensure the enterprise reaches its target.
As well as access to the £200,000 matched funding from Santander, projects will benefit from crowdfunding team specialists with education, enterprise and coaching support to unlock further funds and create lasting impacts in communities across the UK.
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Santander UK is a financial services provider in the UK that offers a wide range of personal and commercial financial products and services. It has brought real competition to the UK, through its innovative products for retail customers and relationship banking model for UK SMEs. At 31 December 2016, the bank serves around 14 million active customers with c20,000 employees and operates through 841 branches (which includes 60 university branches) and 67 regional Corporate Business Centres. Santander UK is subject to the full supervision of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in the UK. Santander UK plc customers are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the UK.
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About Memory Matters
Memory Matters South West is a Community Interest Company (CIC) with a focus on public benefit rather than private gain. It runs Activity Clubs in the community and groups in care homes all with cognitive stimulation in mind. It also houses a number of useful resources including FAQs, sensory products, documents and useful links. For more information please visit: http://www.memorymatterssw.co.uk/
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Sarah Webster T: 020 7756 5533 M: 07568 112 529 E: sarah.webster@santander.co.uk
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