INNOVATIVE PUB DEMENTIA GROUP BECOMES A SOCIAL HUB FOR THE WIDER COMMUNITY

Joseph Holt Brewery is providing a lifeline for dementia sufferers and their carers by hosting support sessions in two of our pubs – with more in the planning. They are believed to be the first dementia support sessions to be held in a pub.

The Get Together Group meets twice a week – at The Goat’s Gate in Whitefield and The Woodthorpe in Prestwich which are both owned by the 177 year-old Joseph Holt Brewery.

However, the Get Together Group sessions have developed such a warm reputation as vibrant social hubs that people who are not directly affected by dementia now also attend the meet-ups. This includes carers whose loved ones have sadly passed away yet who continue to find support, company and friendship within the group.

“People just seem to love the warm atmosphere and general sense of community,” explains Sonia Schofield, 53, who founded the group and runs the sessions with a band of dedicated volunteers.

“There’s free tea, coffee, and biscuits, along with bingo, a raffle, and some fabulous singers who come along to entertain the group. Word has spread that this is such a lively and welcoming space that even people without a direct connection to dementia regularly come along – which is so lovely. It also adds to a sense of community, helps break down stigma around dementia and makes the group feel warm, inclusive, and caring.”

Sonia has worked for the Joseph Holt brewery since joining as an 18-year-old member of bar staff 35 years ago. She was inspired to establish the groups after her beloved grandmother, Pam Schofield, who had raised her from the age of six, developed dementia in her late sixties. As Pam’s condition worsened it became clear that there was very little regular support available for families like theirs.

According to a survey from the Royal Voluntary Service. more than a third of people caring for loved ones with dementia receive little or no support following diagnosis. So while working at the Goat’s Gate, Sonia decided to do something about it, and in her free time arranged initial sessions at the Whitefield pub. The Get Together Group is believed to be the first dementia support sessions to be held in a pub.

The Woodthorpe and The Goat’s Gate are two of 127 pubs owned by Manchester-based brewery Joseph Holt . The company, which was established by weaver’s son Joseph Holt in 1849, has been in the same family for six generations

The first group at The Goats Gate became so popular, attracting around 50 people a week that she went onto set up a second one at the Woodthorpe last year. There are now plans to set up one at another Joseph Holt pub, the Bay Horse in Urmston.

There are more than 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK. And while there is no cure, research has shown that keeping sufferers socially active does slow down the pace of the disease.

The pub setting enhances the service provided, adds Sonia, since these are warm and welcoming places

Said Sonia: “The atmosphere in a pub is far less formal than, say a healthcare or community centre setting. This helps reduce anxiety and makes interaction feel more natural. Holding a support group in an everyday community venue also shows that people living with dementia are valued members of the community, not defined only by their diagnosis. Just seeing this group of people together is so uplifting.”

Mark Norbury, director of pubs at Joseph Holt, said the success of the Get Together Club has been inspirational with plans for more pubs to host these much needed sessions.

He added: “We are a family business with very strong roots in the communities where our pubs are located. The Get Together Club perfectly reflects Joseph Holt’s values – our pubs are about much more than simply serving drinks. They are welcoming spaces where people can come together, socialise, build friendships, and support one another. We are incredibly proud of what Sonia and her fellow volunteers have achieved: creating a vital source of support for those who need it, while also providing a warm, uplifting environment where everyone feels welcome.”

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