Forget me nots
Forget-Me-Nots (FMNs) is a group of people with different diagnoses of dementia who are not willing to sit back and let life pass them by.
It’s a group of people with dementia who, alongside KMPT, are trying to change the stigma. The group acts as an advocate for dementia and it’s a place to meet like-minded people. FMNs is a place in Canterbury where you can keep up with what’s happening with dementia and meet others who are sharing the experience. The group gives a purpose to those who have had to give up work or retire early.
The FMNs are a group of about 20 people living with a diagnosis of a dementia, professionals from KMPT and other supporters such as placement students, volunteers and visitors.
FMNs are active members of the Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project (DEEP) and seek to engage with other national groups of interested people. FMNs operate on the belief that every person living with dementia has something to contribute towards making the world more dementia-friendly and the right to have their views heard.
In November 2020, FMNs were given a DEEP enquiry grant to investigate The Impact of COVID-19 on People with Dementia. This is led by the FMNs for people with dementia. This project will take place between December 2020 to June 2020.
The FMNs aims:
- Promoting a wide range of voices of people living with dementia to counter the stigma and stereotypes surrounding dementia
- Contributing to the development and delivery of good-quality services for people with dementia including health, social care, the voluntary sector and community services such as theatres, cinemas, banks and newsagents
- Raising awareness of the experience of living with dementia through taking part in teaching, training, conferences, consultations, research and campaigns
- Sharing challenges and useful strategies relating to living well with dementia
- Providing consultation and contribution to local and national projects and research.
If you have used KMPT services and are living with dementia
We meet monthly in Thanington just outside Canterbury and welcome new members with dementia living in the Canterbury and coastal area.
Forget-Me-Nots Anniversary at Canterbury Festival
Read more about the Forget-Me-Nots 10th anniversary celebration
Time and Place poetry project
Read about the Time and Place poetry project
Conference presentation
Presentation By Keith Oliver and Theo Chan of Forget me Nots about their recent Dementia Enquiry into experiences of connection and technology during covid.
The recording includes three talks, and our presentation is between the timestamps 14:43 - 29:49. I hope you all enjoy it!
Volunteer with us
If you are interested in volunteering and supporting us with writing for speeches and publications, as a travel companion to meetings and conferences or administration of our meetings and events, please get in touch with Volunteer Coordinator Clare Streeter c.streeter@nhs.net. (This is a DEEP and Friends for Mental Health East Kent funded-post)
