Overview
The Kirrie Connections project and community hub in the centre of Kirrie enjoys considerable success as a dementia friendly community, and is anxious to have a future as part of the town, after its project funding expires. The feasibility project allowed a professional investigation and appraisal of a number of business plan options for sustaining Kirrie Connections and the hub.
What has been your greatest achievement so far?
Kirrie Connections have been invited by the University of Worcester to join their UK Dementia Reference forum. The University has recently been awarded a grant of £600k by the National Lottery to set up a UK wide network of new pioneering dementia support hubs. Kirrie Connections will be the first one in Scotland. The project is being led by the UK’s most eminent dementia academic, Professor Dawn Brooker. Professor Brooker has also invited us down to be a guest speaker at the UK Dementia Congress in Brighton in November.
How has your project benefited your local area?
The project secured the future of the Kirrie Connections dementia hub. The demand for this facility is evidenced in the sharp increase we have had in referrals to the project in 2018. In 2017 we had a total of 18 referrals. At the time of writing, we have had 27.
What has been your biggest challenge?
We are currently working on developing a sustainable business model for the project, so we are not 100% reliant on grants when the current ones run out in 2021.
Website: https://www.kirrieconnections.co.uk/
Gallery
Project name
Kirrie Connections Stage 2 Feasibility Study
Applicant name
Kirrie and Dean Area Partnership
Approved grant
£8,634
