A group from the Cardiff Alzheimer’s Society’s Oldwell Court Day Centre has enjoyed an early Christmas lunch at the New Inn pub in Birchgrove, as part of Heineken’s Brewing Good Cheer campaign.
Ten people living with dementia, and their carers from the Oldwell Court Day Centre, joined New Inn publicans, Clare and Andrew Cox and their staff for a three-course festive lunch in the cosy pub. They were also treated to a seasonal sing-song.
Brewing Good Cheer, now in its fourth year, celebrates the important role pubs play in communities by bringing people together for a festive event, especially those who might not often get a chance to visit their local.
Oldwell Court Day Support Service is run by the Alzheimer’s Society, the UK’s leading support and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers. The day centre gives people with dementia the chance to continue their hobbies and interests, try out new activities, and socialise with others in a friendly, safe, welcoming and supportive group.
Shena Pierrot, Oldwell Court’s day support manager, said: “We’re delighted that Clare and Andrew from the New Inn chose to invite us to enjoy such a wonderful Christmas lunch with them as part of Heineken’s Brewing Good Cheer campaign. It’s so important for people with dementia to have these sorts of social opportunities, it really helps stimulate them and raise their spirits. And the centre staff don’t get many opportunities to get out either so it’s fair to say we all enjoyed it.”
Alzheimer Society member Brenda Dunphy is served her Christmas lunch by New Inn licensee Clare Cox.
Clare said: “We believe pubs should be at the heart of the community and as well as serving our regulars, we also like to support local groups and host regular charity nights, as well as reaching out to those in the community who can’t always come to the pub for different reasons, maybe for financial reasons or perhaps if the have mobility issues.
“My grandfather had Alzheimer’s, which is one of the reasons we chose to invite members of the local Alzheimer’s Society to join us for a Brewing Good Cheer Christmas lunch. We hope they had a wonderful time, we certainly enjoyed serving them and sharing some festive good cheer.”
Heineken’s Brewing Good Cheer campaign has grown each year. In 2018, 100 pubs took part in hosting Christmas lunches for over 2,000 people as part of the initiative. That figure is set to increase to 150 pubs in 2019.
Comments