Hello, I’m Cath, Community Circles Connector for Rochdale.  My role is to support people living with dementia in Rochdale develop a community circle.  A Community Circle is a way to support people through bringing together family, friends and neighbours with a facilitator.  A circle can start with two people or several people coming together.  Each circle has a clear purpose and usually meets once a month for an hour or two to talk together, then agree what the circle can do that will make a difference.

Most people build their own circles quite naturally and informally through their everyday lives. However one issue that is common to many people who have long term illness is that they become socially isolated. Often people find that the only people consistently in their lives are close family or paid carers. Here it becomes necessary to consciously build circles and connections with the person, because for some people connection does not occur easily or automatically.   Community Circles intentionally build community around a person helping them to build relationships and connections with others.

Sometimes a circle can even begin with just the focus person and one other person making a commitment to work to build a circle of support around the person, however difficult that is, and however long it takes. This more ‘intentional’ work of building connections in order to overcome a person’s social isolation is what is meant by a ‘circle of support’.

How can you get involved?

Get in touch if you know someone living with dementia that would benefit from a Community Circle, perhaps they need support from a circle to make new connections, support to make decisions or to widen networks if they are feeling isolated.

Contribute to someone’s circle; do you have some time to share or want to contribute you own gifts and skills

Become a circle facilitator; we train facilitators to support the circle to have conversations that lead to positive actions.

For further details or if you have any questions please contact Cath on 07824096056 or cath@community-circles.co.uk

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