Empowering Devon’s Memory Cafés: Bringing Brighter Moments to Life
At Memory Matters, we’ve recently had the absolute joy of spending time with volunteers from the Devon Memory Café Consortium, where we have delivered five out of six hands-on training sessions rooted in something really special—Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST). We trained them on how the principles of CST can be used in a memory cafe session by volunteers.
These weren’t just training sessions. They were about helping volunteers feel more confident, more equipped, and more inspired to create moments that truly matter for people living with dementia and those who care for them.
When someone you love is living with dementia, the small things become everything. A spark of connection. A shared laugh. A moment of confidence. CST-type activities gives us a way to make more of those moments possible. It’s not just about filling time—it’s about filling time with meaning.
The volunteers we trained discovered how CST activities—like finishing well-known proverbs or diving into word games—can gently challenge thinking, build confidence, and bring smiles. These simple, structured activities aren’t just enjoyable—they’re proven to support cognitive health and wellbeing.
The feedback? Heartening. One volunteer told us, “Thank you for delivering such an engaging course—I left brimming with enthusiasm.” That energy is what will ripple through Memory Cafés across Devon.
We have completed five training sessions all across Devon with more to follow. This training is part of a bigger picture—a shared commitment to making our communities kinder, more connected, and more empowering for people living with and affected by dementia. We’re excited to see this approach embedded in Memory Cafés across Devon, bringing structure, joy, and purpose into every session.
Huge thanks to Devon Memory Cafe Consortium for making this possible.
To every volunteer who joined us, thank you. You’re helping create places where people feel seen, heard, and valued. And that changes everything.