Reports

Members of Long Clawson Women’s Institute have delivered 14 twiddle quilts for dementia patients at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT).

Each one is an individual creation, with brightly coloured fabric, buttons and a variety of textures. Their aim is to sooth and stimulate dementia patients by giving them something to do with their hands.

The Woman’s Institute nationally has been promoting activities around dementia and mental health.

Christine Smith, Long Clawson WI vice-president, said: “Making quilts for people with dementia fits very well with the WI’s ethos. It’s doing something for other people in a creative way.

“It has been great fun. We started with small squares with beads, buttons, zips and bows, and anything else we could find that would be good to ‘twiddle’ with. We aimed to make 100 squares but in the end have made more than 150. We have joined the squares together into larger patchwork squares, and backed them with fleece, to make the twiddle quilts.

“We are very appreciative of the Long Clawson Sewing Bee’s support in helping us achieve this.”

Long Clawson WI, which is celebrating its centenary this year, began the project in August, and finished in early November. Members found it stimulated discussion about mental health, with many members sharing their own or their relatives’ experiences.

Carole Brown, the Long Clawson group’s treasurer, said: “The more people that are aware of dementia then the better the understanding and provision will be across the community.”

Simon Guild, community services manager from LPT, said: “Twiddle mitts and twiddle mats have proven to be beneficial in enhancing the wellbeing of people with dementia. They provide a means of safe and meaningful engagement in activity which can reduce symptoms of dementia and enhance wellbeing.

“We would like to thank Long Clawson WI for their kind donation and will ensure they are distributed to our patient to support their wellbeing.”

Lindsay Woodward, fundraising manager for LPT’s charitable arm Raising Health, said: “I can’t thank the ladies of Long Clawson WI enough for creating the twiddle quilts for us - each one is as unique as our patients’ experience of dementia is to them. It makes a big difference to have the support of groups in our local community.

“If anyone reading this is part of a local group who are considering making dementia-friendly items or fundraising in support of dementia care for local people I would love for them to get in touch.”

You will be able to see two of the quilts at St Remigius’s Church, Long Clawson, Melton, on the weekend of December 15 and 16. The group are producing further quilts for children with ADHD, which they expect to hand over in the new year.

To contact Lindsay Woodward, email her at: Lindsay.woodward@leicspart.nhs.uk .

Caption: LPT staff and WI members with some of the twiddle quilts. From the left: Theresa Plimbley, receptionist at LPT’s Neville Centre; Rebecca Colledge, community manager for LPT; Maxilyn Geary, from the Leicestershire and Rutland federation of WIs; Lindsay Woodward, fundraising manager for Raising Health; Carole Brown, treasurer for Long Clawson WI; Christine Smith, Long Clawson WI vice-president; Simon Guild, community manager for LPT; and Jenny Sansom, programme secretary for Long Clawson WI.

Brendan McGrath

Communications Manager (CHS)

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust

0116 295 0801

07825 693 837