ALZHEIMER'S Support is welcoming members back to its day clubs in Wiltshire.

The charity has worked with Wiltshire Council and Public Health England to ensure its clubs are safe to reopen and was delighted to receive official approval last week.

It’s largest setting, national award-winning Old Silk Works Club in Warminster, reopened its doors on Tuesday July 28 with clubs in Trowbridge and Devizes following in due course.

The clubs are a lifeline for members and their families, many of whom have found life in lockdown extremely isolating and difficult.

Denise Fryer, whose husband Mike is a member at Old Silk Works, said: “I am delighted with the reopening because it has been a traumatic time for both of us.

"I have had so much help and support from the charity over the last few weeks and from others – but I am really delighted to have the club back for Mike.”

Grant Newton, head of day care at Alzheimer’s Support, said: “A huge amount of thought, planning and application has gone into this.

"Our plans have been scrutinised by experts and explained in great detail to families so everyone can feel reassured.

"We are opening each club in turn so we can make sure we get it absolutely right for each setting.

“While the heart and humour of the clubs will remain unchanged, there will be, of necessity, many changes in how we operate to keep people safe.”

These include setting specific guidance and risk assessment, strict infection control measures, staff wearing masks and more personal protective equipment as appropriate, and activities in smaller groups.

At lunchtime, ready-cooked meals from Trowbridge-based, leading food company, apetito, will be served in place of the club’s usual home-cooked lunches.

The company, which works closely with Alzheimer’s Support as a corporate partner, is offering the meals free of charge to allow the charity’s staff to concentrate on members and ensure meals can be cooked safely and easily.

An apetito spokesman said: “Alzheimer’s Support does amazing work locally – we want to help wherever we can to make a real difference to people’s lives and we know how tough it has been for many individuals and their families over the past few months who are living with Alzheimer’s.”

Mr Newton said: “We are absolutely delighted to be opening our doors again, and so grateful to apetito for helping us to make this possible.

“We know how desperately the clubs have been missed. We have kept in close touch with all our families by phone and I have spent the last few weeks visiting members in their own gardens.

"It was so good to see people again, but I also found it heartbreaking at times as the social isolation people are experiencing is so damaging.

“I was asked at every visit ‘when will the day clubs open’ which I couldn’t answer then. Now at last we can give people some good news – and everyone is overjoyed to think we’ll be back together soon.”

To get help from Alzheimer’s Support call 01225 776481 or fill in a self-referral form at www.alzheimerswiltshire.org.uk.