South Devon´s
peer support group
for younger people
with a dementia
About us
The Young Ones peer support group for younger people with a diagnosis of a dementia. It is based in South Devon and is run by Tracey, Becky and Lia.
The Young Ones originally came in to being when in 2021 Tracey and Lia, who at that time were working for the Alzheimer’s Society, established a pilot project. The purpose of the project was to find out what people with Young Onset of Dementia wanted and needed by way of support in the local area. This led to a peer support group being developed, which continues to meet on a monthly basis at Dawlish Hospital.
To secure the future of the group, Tracey and Lia took it on after they had left the Alzheimer’s Society and it is currently run on a voluntary basis. The group was named The Young Ones by one of our members.
We have also recently set up a Carers’ Support Group which, again, meets monthly at Teignmouth Museum, and we receive a small grant from Devon County Council to facilitate this.
Between the three of us, we have over 85 years of work experience in health and social care. We have supported people with a diagnosis of dementia in a professional capacity as well as having personal experience of a dementia diagnosis within our families. We therefore bring both our professional and personal experiences to supporting others.
Values
Our groups are free of charge as we feel that
support needs to be freely available to those who need it. We create a supportive, safe space in which people can share their experiences and feelings in confidence.
We take a person centred approach and see the person and not the dementia. We aim to empower people to have a purpose and to feel they are a valued member of the community.
Meetings
Our peer support group meets monthly at Dawlish Hospital and the Carers’ Support Group meets in the evening at Teignmouth Museum on a monthly basis. As space is limited, please contact us for further information.
What people say
“I come to the group because I find it very helpful. When I was first diagnosed I felt on my own but coming to the group makes me realise I’m not on my own and we all suffer with the same symptoms.”
“A dementia diagnosis was a very frightening situation for us. Joining this brilliant group of people meant we then felt that someone had got our back at all times, which was wonderful."
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“We would be lost without the group as we are a group of people coming together to share our journey and to support each other through this devastating condition with our loved ones. WE ARE NOT ALONE”
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“As a carer, I am new to everything about dementia and I have found going to the support group I am gaining so much knowledge and insight from listening to other people around me, as I want to do my best but don’t always get it right. Thank goodness for our support group it’s my lifeline too."
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