A HUGE thank you to Gryffe Valley Rotary Club who recently donated £1,000 to us. The money is very much appreciated and will be used to pay for meaningful and enjoyable activities for our dementia-inclusive drop-in group.

We meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month in the West Halls, Main Street and our lovely volunteers and bakers make sure that everyone receives a warm welcome and enjoys themselves.

Our regular entertainment and activities include things like creative movement with Elaine Kordys from Spin Turn Creative, Screen Memories with Michael White and Singing for Wellbeing with Daniela Hathaway. We are also looking forward to a visit from Kirsty McKay School of Dance, as well as singing sea shanties with Jan Brown.

Houston Hello Singers, our dementia-inclusive choir, is back on 5 September, with sessions on the first and third Thursday of every month.

Both groups are for anyone living with dementia, those who support them, and anyone else who likes a blether and some company.

People living with dementia must be accompanied by someone who can support them, unless they are able to attend independently.

We are keen to work towards making Houston, Crosslee and Johnstone dementia-friendly communities, where people living with dementia, their families and carers feel supported and included, and are looking for people who live and work in the area to join this exciting project.

Please contact Frankie Greenwood at familyandcommunity.houstonkirk@gmail.com or Karen McShane from the Johnstone Dementia Friendly Group at jdfgroup@hotmail.com for more information, or to register your interest.