Latest News

Woolwell Centre - Unpaid Carers Support Group

The Woolwell Centre in Bickleigh Parish are starting a new support group for unpaid carers. Attached is their flyer advertising the new support group, which has been financed with a donation from the Newham Solar fund.

Being a carer for someone is both a demanding and emotionally draining role, especially if you are a spouse, child or sibling to the person being cared for. Due to the demands of the role, it can take over your life, even if you are sharing the care with another.

Carer Support groups gives the carer a chance to meet other people in the same situation, to exchange thoughts and ideas and to have a space try and unwind and relax in the company of other people going through what you as a carer are going through. It gives as stated in the word 'Support', advice and help and lets you know that you are not alone.

As the Woolwell Centre says 'This is a warm, welcoming space where we listen, learn, and lift each other up. We can’t wait to meet you and enjoy a cuppa together!'

Woolwell Centre - Carer Support Group Flyer (pdf)

Woolwell Centre

1st September 2026

Chinese Nursing Students Share Rural Healthcare Experience With The Devon Community

Six student nurses and two lecturers from Nanfang University in China visited Devon this summer as part of a two-week international Nurses’ Summer School at the University of Plymouth.

The visit took place from 19 July to 1 August 2026 and the programme was designed and coordinated by Ian Sherriff BEM, Faculty of Health at the University of Plymouth.

The Summer School gave the Chinese delegation an opportunity to experience nursing and healthcare in England, while also sharing their own knowledge and experiences with healthcare professionals, academics and community leaders in Devon.

A key part of the visit was time spent in rural Devon, centred around Brixton Parish. The students visited a rural GP practice and explore how nurses, GPs, community services and voluntary organisations work together to support people living in rural communities.

The exchange also provided an opportunity for the Chinese students to share their own experiences of nursing and healthcare in China. They gave a presentation and took part in discussions with the Vice President of Nanfang University, Ian Sherriff BEM and Liz Hitchins, Chair of Brixton Parish Council and Chair of both the Four Rivers Dementia Alliance and Dementia Friendly Parishes around the Yealm. Assisting their visit around the Brixton Parish was Claire Puckey, the Community Liaison and Support Lead for the Four Rivers Dementia Alliance.

The discussion explored the similarities and differences between rural healthcare in China and Devon, including nursing, community support, prevention and dementia care. The delegation also gained an insight into how local democracy and public services operate.

Alongside the formal programme, the visitors experienced Devon life through an evening meal at the Foxhound in Brixton, a boat trip on the Tamar and a visit to The Box Museum.

The Summer School is intended to be a genuine two-way exchange. The Chinese students had the opportunity to take ideas back to China around community nursing, prevention, multidisciplinary working and the links between rural communities, primary care and hospitals, while their Devon hosts gained a valuable insight into nursing and rural healthcare in China.

Ian Sherriff BEM said the programme represented the beginning of an exciting relationship between Nanfang University, the University of Plymouth and the communities of Plymouth and rural Devon.

The Summer School provided an opportunity to celebrate the strengths of rural healthcare in Devon while learning from international colleagues and developing new ideas for the future.

20th August 2026

Dementia Voices: Stories And Science In Conversation

The University of Plymouth and Rare Dementia Support have been hosting a series of free public events to raise awareness of dementia in our communities. The events are entitled 'Dementia voices: stories and science in conversation'. This will be their sixth and final event in this series.

These events have been run as Dementia is not only a medical condition but a lived reality for many individuals and families.

These events aim to:
• break down barriers between research and everyday experience
• share knowledge in a way that is accessible and meaningful
• encourage open discussion about challenges and hopes for the future
• build a stronger, more informed community that supports those affected by dementia.

This sixth event is scheduled for Thursday 7th May, between 11:00am and 2:00pm in the Foulston Room at The Box in Plymouth (postcode: PL4 8AX). Refreshments will be provided to all who attend.

To attend, you need to register through 'Eventbrite' (see attached Flyer for the registration path).

At each event, those attending will hear:

• A person with lived experience of dementia sharing their story
• A researcher reflecting on their dementia research

This events main research speaker will be Dr Matt Roser, a neuroscientist and lecturer in the School of Psychology. He studies brain connectivity with patients, brain imaging, and behavioural tasks. Matt is interested in the changes to brain connectivity that happen with age and their relevance to dementia. Matt manages the Older Adult Participant Database, which older adults can voluntarily join.

Together, these voices will highlight both the human and the scientific dimension of dementia, opening space for conversation, reflection and community learning.

If you any questions or require more information then please contact either of the following:

• Daniela Oehring at daniela.oehring@plymouth.ac.uk
• Krithika Anil at krithika.anil@plymouth.ac.uk

This event is stated is free and open to everyone. Please join for an engaging morning of stories, insights and connection.

Eventbrite Booking Page

30th April 2026

Delamore Arts Supported Charity For 2026 - Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm

Our Community Dementia partner 'Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm' has been chosen as the supported charity for 2026 by Delamore Arts.

The Delamore estate is nestled on the edge of Dartmoor in the parish of Cornwood. It has been running an arts festival in the month of May for nearly a quarter of a century. Art is presented by hundreds of sculptors and painters and displayed in the house in three galleries and sculptures in the beautiful gardens. May is the month as the gardens will be at their best. Refreshments can be purchased at their popular Old Kitchen Cafe.

The Arts festival runs from the 1st of May to the 31st of May and is open between 10:30am to 4:30pm daily. Entry is £17 (£14 if purchased in advance through their website) Under 16s have free entry.

More information and location information can be found on the Delamore Arts website (see link below) and initial information can be found in the attached poster.

Delamore Arts can be contacted on either 01752 837236 or 01752 837663.

The address for Delamore Arts is:
Delamore Arts
Cornwood
Ivybridge
Devon
PL21 9QT

Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm will be at Delamore Arts everyday throughout the festival and each Wednesday will be a dementia friendly day offering support to carers and families to enjoy the gardens and exhibits with a quiet set aside place and company to provide some relaxation if necessary.

A lovely location, a warm and sunny day surrounded by exquisite art and gardens, with a decent cup of tea or coffee, makes for a wonderful day out and each person attending is helping to support people living with dementia in our rural communities by the support given to 'Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm'.

Delamore Arts 2026 - Dementia Friendly Parishes Around The Yealm Poster (pdf)

Delamore Arts Website

20th April 2026

Rare Dementia Support - Dementia Voices: Stories and Science in Conversation

At the second 'Dementia Voices: Stories and Science in Conversation' event at the Box, Plymouth, (See previous News Item 'Dementia Voices - Raising Awareness Of Dementia' dated:8th January 2026), Karen Tapson gave an insight into two rare dementia's out of the seven they support - 'Posterior Cortical Atrophy' (PCA) and 'Young-Onset Alzheimer's Disease' (YOAD).

The core signs of PCA is progressive visual impairment, usually to people in their 50's and 60's and despite no initial loss of memory, Alzheimer's Disease is the underlying cause. For YOAD it usually impacts on people in their 40's, 50's and early 60's. Often people are physically fit and working with families.

Rare Dementia Support outlined how they help support people living with these types of dementia as well as support for their family members and carers. Karen's presentation is attached for you to look at and details what Rare Dementia Support do and how they can be contacted if you need help through advice and ongoing support.

As stated this presentation was part of the University of Plymouth's 'Dementia Voices - Raising Awareness Of Dementia'. If you would like to attend a future session then a third one has been scheduled.

The third event in the series:

Date: Thursday, 26 February 2026
Time: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Venue: The Box, Plymouth – Foulston Room, Refreshments are provided.

Registration through Eventbrite is now open and can be booked - click here. If you have any questions, require more information or would like to be more involved with these rolling events then you can contact:

Daniela Oehring at email address or Krithika Anil at email address, both of the University of Plymouth, in partnership with Rare Dementia Support.

Rare Dementia Support Presentation - January 22 2026 (pdf)

Rare Dementia Support - Contact Link

31st January 2026

New Monthly Dementia Singing Group In Ivybridge PL21 0SL

The Salvation Army are starting a new singing group in Ivybridge for all but especially for people living with dementia and their carers. It is called 'Singing By Heart' and joins over a 100 venues across the United Kingdom and Ireland offering this service.

The aim is to create a relaxed environment for all to get together and sing popular songs and classic hymns from the years gone by. It is about music and memories.

There will be refreshments served and a £2 fee to cover the basic costs.

The venue is - The Bridge, Ivybridge Salvation Army, Leonards Road, Ivybridge, Pl21 0SL.

If you would like more information then contact the Salvation Army on 01752 896974 or by email at ivybridge@salvationarmy.org.uk.

See the attached posters for future dates or explore the Four Rivers Dementia Alliance 'What's On' pages for support and social events in the South Hams.

Singing By Heart - Ivybridge Poster (pdf)

Salvation Army Ivybridge

28th January 2026

Dementia Voices - Raising Awareness Of Dementia

The University of Plymouth and Rare Dementia Support are hosting
a series of free public events to raise awareness of dementia in our communities. The events are entitled 'Dementia voices: stories and
science in conversation'.

They have a second event scheduled for Thursday 22nd January, between 11:00am and 1:00pm in the Foulston at The Box in Plymouth (postcode: PL4 8AX). Refreshments will be provided to all who attend.

To attend, you need to register through 'Eventbrite' (see attached Flyer for the registration path).

At each event, those attending will hear:

• A person with lived experience of dementia sharing their story
• A researcher reflecting on their dementia research

If you any questions or require more information then please contact either of the following:

• Daniela Oehring at daniela.oehring@plymouth.ac.uk
• Krithika Anil at krithika.anil@plymouth.ac.uk

University of Plymouth - Dementia voices: stories and science in conversation (pdf)

Eventbrite Booking Page

8th January 2026