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Switchboard opens ‘The Rainbow Cafe’ today

Besi Besemar February 15, 2018

Continuing their work with hard to reach and seldom heard of groups, Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard are to open an LGBT+ dementia café today.

With an £11,725 grant awarded by the Rainbow Fund, the Rainbow Café is an exciting new initiative for LGBT+ people living with dementia or memory loss and their friends, families and carers.

This new project will help to show that LGBT Switchboard is more than just a telephone helpline as the charity continues to diversify and aims to ensure that Switchboard is responsive, relevant and accessible for the present-day needs of the LGBT+ communities.

Daniel Cheesman
Daniel Cheesman

Switchboard’s CEO Daniel Cheesman, says: “Through the Rainbow Café, we aim to raise awareness of dementia within the LGBT+ communities and hope that both LGBT and non-LGBT services will have a better understanding of the specific and unique needs of LGBT+ people living with dementia.

“Our Older Person’s Project has highlighted the need for this service and we are thankful to the support that we have been given by the Rainbow Fund to get the service up and running”.

The Rainbow Café will be launched today, Thursday, February 15, 2018, with an opening event from 11am to 2pm attended by the Mayor of Brighton & Hove, at Brooke Mead (the new extra care housing accommodation to be opened by Brighton and Hove City Council) in Albion Street, Brighton.

As part of this launch, the awarding winning play The Purple List: A Gay Dementia Venture, will be performed by Ian Baxter. This is a 35 minute one man performance exploring the highs and lows of the lives of same-sex couple, Sam and Derek’s who live with the reality of dementia. The performance will be followed by a Q&A session, a chance to hear about the Rainbow Café and a buffet lunch.

Daniel adds: “Everyone is welcome to attend the launch event today at 11am. Whether you are interested in attending the group, want to find out more or if you are interested in volunteering. The play is a powerful portrayal of the impact that dementia can have and in this scenario in a same-sex relationship – I would encourage everyone to come and see it”.


Event: Launch of The Rainbow Cafe and performance of The Purple List

Where: Brooke Mead, Albion Street, Brighton BN2 9PY

When: Thursday, February 15

Time: 11am – 2pm

Cost: Free event

 

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