People living with dementia in Budleigh Salterton and the surrounding area will be able to benefit from a new service.

Active Minds is launching at the health and wellbeing hub in Budleigh, offering friendly group sessions twice a week from the beginning of April.

Jonathan Hanbury, clinical nurse specialist and founder of Atlas Care, which is running the sessions, said: “We are really excited to have partnered with the Hub at Budleigh to offer person centred specialist therapy for individuals living with memory loss.

“This won’t feel like therapy, just a small group of people having a good time and leaving feeling good about themselves.

“We all know how important talking, interacting and connecting with other people is.

“For those who are living with memory problems talking, socialising and interacting with others is more than just good for the soul, it’s good for the brain too.”

Marc Jobson, manager of the Budleigh hub, added: “I warmly welcome Atlas Care to the Budleigh Hub.

“Their professional ethos and warm way of working will integrate perfectly into the services we already provide for our community.”

Active Minds sessions last around two-and-a-half hours and involve a group of around five people. Each group is facilitated by a specialist cognitive stimulation therapist and incorporate a range of talking activities which work the different functions of the brain.

Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is an evidence-based therapy for people with dementia which aims to actively stimulate and engage people with mild to moderate dementia.

Carer Nic Shaw said: “As a carer I benefit from the sessions as Mum had something planned to look forward to independent of me and the cognitive stimulation provided by these sessions definitely helps to support her mood and general sense of wellbeing.”

Atlas Respite & Therapy is a Devon-based social enterprise founded by clinical nurse specialist Jonathan Hanbury which is dedicated to helping and supporting individuals and families living with dementia.

There will be CST sessions at the hub from 9.30am until 12.30pm every Wednesday and Friday and this will be followed at 1pm with a nutrition and exercise session and then another CST session at 2.30pm.

For more information, ring the hub on 01395 446896