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Making Memories
Younger People with Dementia’s Making Memories Scheme gives those living with young onset dementia an opportunity to create happy and precious memories with their children and loved ones. Making Memories funds wishes that help people with a diagnosis to enjoy their own unique experiences of a lifetime. These could be anything from doing a skydive, taking a family train journey across the country, and learning to play a musical instrument, to watching the breath-taking beauty of a sunset from a hot air balloon. Whatever they choose, they will be creating precious and lasting memories for themselves and their families.
In June of 2023, our charity launched the Making Memories Scheme to give the people we support who are living with young onset dementia an opportunity to create happy and precious memories. YPWD families are invited to tell us about their wish, explaining what they would like to do, when they would like to do it, and any other relevant information that will help us ensure the experience is one to remember and treasure.
We grant wish gifts up to the value of £500. There is no submission deadline and wish requests are entered into a draw, so that everybody has an equal chance of being chosen.
Judy’s Making Memories Experience
Judy (59) has been receiving support from YPWD for six years and particularly enjoys attending our art workshop in Berkshire. Judy expressed that she would like to visit Blenheim Palace as this is something she has always wanted to do. We started off her booking with an afternoon tea in the Orangery restaurant and funded the tickets to visit the Sleeping Beauty in the Palace exhibition and the Christmas Illuminated Light Trail for herself and three family members.
“I would just like to say wow, what a wonderful gift. We had a fantastic day.
We had our afternoon tea, which we couldn’t finish as it was so much, we were absolutely full. We visited Churchills Museum and I got to meet the man himself (well, his statue) as well as knock on number 10. No one was in. We then went and tied a ribbon on the wishing tree before taking a few minutes in the chapel. It was absolutely stunning. Next, we visited the stables before entering the house for Sleeping Beauty. The house was stunning. Lots to see as there were trees decorated with amazing ornaments, lights and fairies.
Later on we visited the shop and market to pick up gifts for family. Finally, we took a walk around the light trail. There were absolutely beautiful displays along the complete trail. The water display was fantastic and timed to music. We met Santa at his house and had photos with him before travelling home. What a fantastic day we had.”
Thank you so much, it is definitely a memory I will treasure.”
Judy
Seed funded by Bearwood Lakes Golf Club
We wouldn’t have been able to provide the Making Memories scheme without the seed funding from Bearwood Lakes Golf Club, located in Wokingham, Berkshire. In 2023, the Club’s Captions, Roy Kates and Linda Hargreaves, chose us their Charity of Choice and dedicated raising funds to our charity. The club held auctions and dinners to fundraise for Younger People with Dementia, with members generously donating to support our services. We cannot thank Bearwood Lakes enough for their generosity and for giving us this amazing opportunity, helping families to make everlasting memories.
How does it work?
To be eligible to enter the Making Memories draw, you must be currently supported by Younger People with Dementia.
Every quarter, a name is chosen at random from our Making Memories draw.
Our Marketing Lead will then contact the winner to find out what they would like to do, when they would like to do it and how many people will be taking part in the experience.
After this initial conversation, the experience will be arranged and the winner will receive a pack which includes a congratulatory letter, information about their experience and any tickets needed will be printed and included.
We will include information to help make your day as easy as possible by providing maps, direction and details about the nearest public transport if necessary.
Amy will be there to support you all the way up to your experience, throughout and afterwards.
Dean’s Making Memories Experience
Dean has been enjoying attending our activity-based workshops in Surrey since 2021. Dean loves supporting his football team, Millwall FC, so when he was chosen as a Making Memory Winner, there was only one thing he wanted to do! We were able to book Platinum Package tickets for Dean, his brother Phil and grandson Alex so that they could experience the highest standard of hospitality while watching Millwall vs Sunderland at the Den. This meant that they experienced executive seats, a three-course dining experience joined by special guests & Lions legends and a pitch side photo opportunity before being able to vote for the Man of the Match. Phil details their day below:
“Dean is not able to go and watch a game on his own anymore given his condition, so this was a real treat for him. He was aware that he was going to watch a game in London, and you could tell he was excited and happy at the prospect. After arriving and buying a blue Millwall hat from the gift shop, which Dean wore with pride, we made our way into the corporate area and took our seats. Fortunately, our table was directly next to the area that was used for special guests to give a pre-match speech, so Dean had the ideal seat for the occasion. The guest speaker was Millwall legend Neil Harris, a former manager and record goal scorer. As he took his position next to our table, Dean led a chorus of ‘Super, super Neil, super Neil Harris’ recollecting the chant that he sang on the terraces when Neil was a player. Being one of Dean’s footballing heroes, this really added to the day. After this we enjoyed our three-course lunch. We were then invited to visit the pitch side area and Dean got his chance to stand next to the pitch and beside the managers dugout which he loved. The Den was still empty, so it was a rare opportunity to see it before it filled up with spectators. Later on, the game had a cracking atmosphere and a big crowd, buoyed by 3,000 travelling away supporters who’d made the long trip from Sunderland to get there. Dean cheered on The Lions and was absorbed by the game.
It was a special day made possible by Younger People with Dementia.”
Dean, Phil & Alex
Our goal is to help as many families as possible experience their Memory Making wish.
Please contact Amy Pagan, Marketing, Fundraising and Social Media Lead, if you would like more information.