Dementia Garden appeal update – August 2017

An appeal to develop a dementia garden at Kettering General Hospital has topped the £20,000 mark after only five months. The KGH Forget-Me-Not Appeal had originally aimed to raise approximately £150,000 to transform a courtyard adjacent to the Lamport and Twywell wards into a dementia-friendly garden where patients can safely be active.

But a tremendous response from the local community – by both individuals, groups and businesses – has meant that the final cost is likely to be considerably less because of the number of donations of time, expertise and building materials.

KGH Forget-Me-Not Appeal organiser Jayne Chambers said: “We have been overwhelmed by the many kind offers of support we have received. I think many people have experienced first-hand family members or colleagues who have, or are, living with dementia.

“Our aim is to transform a courtyard adjacent to the Lamport and Twywell wards into a dementia-friendly garden where patients can safely be active.

“We will be one of only a few acute Trusts in the country to offer this kind of facility.”

Since the Trust’s last update in May there have been a number of important developments including:

A civil engineering company –PJ Carey of Milton Keynes – is co-ordinating all of the building work and demolition by providing a project manager, Jason Fairbrother, who is working in conjunction with other local supporters to bring the project to a successful conclusion.

Debi Noone – head of Corby Business Network – and Simon Cox – who runs Kettering Business Network – are together working with local firms to co-ordinate contributions of supplies to develop the project

Gill Gardener from Bosworths Garden Company of Burton Latimer has pulled together a garden design and planting plan thanks to support from Sam Bosworth from the family owned company
RF Blount and Sons Plumbing and Heating of Kettering are donating and installing radiators to two rooms adjoining the garden

T James Electrical, of Kettering, have offered to install external and internal lighting for the project

Edmundsons Electrical, of Kettering, will supply electrical equipment for T James Electrical to fit

Other local supporters who have contributed so far include the Teamwork Trust Charity, theatre group Theats, KGH Trust Timewarpers pantomime group, Design work by local garden designer Robin Ideson of Robin Ideson Design of Creaton, and KenSigns of Kettering have given the Appeal a banner to help promote itself at events and have agreed to design and install a mural in the completed garden.

To help support the Appeal contact Jayne Chambers at Jayne.chambers@kgh.nhs.uk. Donations can be made to the Kettering General Hospital Charity Fund (Forget-Me-Not Appeal) 01536-491569.