A NEW dementia meeting centre – the first in East Lothian – could be up and running in Musselburgh by April next year.

Organisations are being invited to apply for grant funding of more than £180,000 over two years to establish and operate the new facility.

The meeting centre, which is like a social club, will help people with dementia and unpaid carers to live well with the condition, giving them a place to meet, have fun, talk to others and get help.

Such meeting centres are based on “sound research evidence” on what helps people to adjust to living with the symptoms and changes that dementia brings. They are best suited to people affected by mild to moderate dementia and their families.

The Musselburgh Meeting Centre Project is a collaboration between East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (ELHSCP), Musselburgh Area Partnership, Dementia Friendly East Lothian and Open Arms Carers.

It is hoped that the new centre will operate out of an existing community facility.

An ELHSCP spokesperson said: “The project group, including carers and people with dementia, have visited a large number of options.

“The project group is in the advanced stage of negotiations with trustees of an existing community facility in central Musselburgh.

“It is hoped that these will be concluded in January but at this stage we cannot give further detail.

“However, should these discussions be unsuccessful, the project group will identify an alternative.

“It is not anticipated that the successful grant applicant will have a role in identifying premises/community space.”

Organisations interested in running the centre must demonstrate the appropriate skills and expertise in providing dementia and community-based services.

This will include the ability to access other funding streams to deliver the dementia meeting centre outcomes and objectives.

Sue Northrop, from Dementia Friendly East Lothian, said: “People living with dementia and unpaid carers and community groups have been working to get meeting centres set up across East Lothian.

“They know they work.

“The project in Musselburgh is happening because of their work and support and brings together a real partnership with the community.

“We owe a big thank you to the many people with dementia and carers from the friendship groups and gatherings who have shared their experience and made a real impact; to the Musselburgh community, for example, Janice Macleod and the health and wellbeing sub-group; Anne Bisset and Open Arms Carers East Lothian; and, of course, the people at ELHSCP who have all worked together to make this a reality.

“The Musselburgh centre is part of a wider collaboration to develop meeting centres and local support for people with dementia and unpaid carers across East Lothian.”

Janice Macleod, chairperson of the Musselburgh Area Partnership Health and Wellbeing Sub-Group, added: “We have had a great response from people and organisations in Musselburgh, ranging from help with finding a home for the meeting centre to offering practical support and encouragement.

“We know there’s a real need for this sort of social club approach.

“Carers can use it for peer and professional support – or just to give themselves a break for a few hours.

“The meeting centre responds to the needs of the people who use it and we hope to be able to offer everything from carers’ advice and support to social activities and excursions.”

Councillor Shamin Akhtar, vice-chairperson of East Lothian Integration Joint Board (IJB), said: “East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership is keen to support this holistic approach, which acknowledges the needs of carers and ensures a diagnosis of dementia doesn’t mean an end to enjoying life either for the person affected or those around them.

“The meeting centre model helps people to live well in the community and, by relieving stress and anxiety, helps people to avoid crisis situations which can be so distressing for them.

“There are only another two or three meeting centres in Scotland and I think our involvement with this project underlines our commitment to innovation in supporting older people.

“I am very much looking forward to seeing the positive difference this will make to people in East Lothian.”

For full details go to www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=DEC434860