A PIONEERING charity which improves the mental wellbeing of older people by helping them reminisce about sport has produced a guide to help former footballers diagnosed with dementia.
The Sporting Memories Foundation runs more than 100 groups across the UK and featured recently on a BBC television documentary in which former Newcastle striker Alan Shearer explored the link between heading footballs and dementia.
One such group is the Northallerton Sporting Memories group which has been meeting in the town’s library every Thursday morning for the past three years.
Volunteers use images, video and memorabilia to assist recall and the sharing of memories.
Co-founder Tony Jameson-Allen, from Topcliffe, near Thirsk, said the aim was to help members have fun, make friends and reconnect with sports they love.
The Professional Footballers' Association have produced the guide with The Sporting Memories Foundation and researchers from the Centre for Dementia Research at Leeds Beckett University.
l A charity fashion show will take place on Monday at M and Co on the High Street in Northallerton at 7pm to raise money for the foundation. Tickets are £3 on the door.
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