A FOURTH dementia cafe has been launched in Middlesbrough to help people living with the condition, as well as their carers.

Middlesbrough Council’s library and community hub staff are all so-called dementia friends and the service is part of the “Dementia Friendly Middlesbrough” initiative. The service runs three monthly dementia cafes at Acklam and North Ormesby community hubs and also at the Central Library – with a fourth café starting at Hemlington Library on Monday, January 29 from 2pm to 3.30pm.

The cafes give people living with dementia and their carers a chance to meet and socialise with others, receiving information and taking part in a wide range of activities over tea and cake.

In addition, the service offers the national Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme with libraries loaning a variety of titles for those living or caring for someone with dementia or for someone who wants to find more out about the condition.

The service offers a memory support library card for anyone living with dementia, which means that fines will not be charged, should books be returned after their due date. Marton Library is currently being refurbished and will be the first library venue to become a dementia friendly building, with the use of appropriate colours and signs within the building.