Kilwinning Library has entered into a new partnership with Alzheimer Scotland to become a dementia information hub.

And to mark the occasion, North Ayrshire Carers Champion Councillor Nairn McDonald joined others in a ‘Tea & Blether’ celebration last Thursday.

The event, which was part of Carers Week, provided the opportunity for people to find out about the help available to them through the library including information and books and support to access the Brain Health tool.

It also provided the opportunity for people to take part in a Memories Scotland reminiscence session and Words for Wellbeing.  

In the new partnership, more than 120 libraries across Scotland will become dementia information hubs.

These libraries will have close relationships with their nearest Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Resource Centre, display and share a wide range of dementia information materials, and support library users to access online dementia and brain health resources such as the Brain Health Scotland website: https://www.brainhealth.scot/

The staff at Kilwinning Library have undertaken Alzheimer Scotland’s Dementia Friends Scotland programme, to help them better understand the day-to-day challenges of living with dementia and support for people with dementia to fully use the library’s resources.

A range of activities will run in libraries including dementia friendly film screenings, Memories Scotland reminiscing and Words for Wellbeing sessions.

The new partnership covers the Scottish Libraries & Information Council, the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, Alzheimer Scotland and pathfinder libraries in Stirling, Aberdeenshire, Glasgow, Fife, North Ayrshire, Inverclyde, the Lothians, East Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire.

Pamela Tulloch, Chief Executive of the Scottish Library & Information Council, said: “We are proud to partner with Alzheimer Scotland on this fantastic initiative. 

“Libraries offer a calm, welcoming and safe-haven for anyone looking for respite, support and information about dementia. Furthermore, library event programmes include Dementia Friendly film screenings, chatty cafés and reminiscence groups.

“Our public libraries play a crucial role tackling this very real problem and they also offer a wide range of information, both on site, online and through quality-assured reading lists.”

Councillor Nairn McDonald added: “Kilwinning Library’s recent ‘Tea and Blether’ event is such a brilliant example of how our local libraries are about so much more than just books.

“They are a place where people can come together, share experiences, and feel part of a community who cares for them.

“Being a carer for one of my own family members means that I understand first-hand just how challenging it can be, so I have no doubt that future sessions like this one are going to have such a positive impact for our residents and library members.

“Thank you to everyone who came along to the recent event.

"A special shout-out to the local dementia advisor Linda Ross also, who is working tirelessly in our communities to support families and carers.

"It was a pleasure and privilege to meet with everyone and I hope that those who attended found that the sessions provided a renewed outlook on life with dementia and a sense of companionship and the start of a shared community support network for those who are affected by dementia.

“The staggering statistics from Scotland’s recent census estimated that there are currently approximately 90,000 people currently living with dementia and around 3,000 of these people will be under the age of 65 years. This is why it is so important to partner with organisations such as Alzheimer Scotland to provide information and support.”

The ’Tea & Blether’ event is just one of several events planned in libraries over the coming months. Find out more by following North Ayrshire Libraries on Facebook, going to twitter.com/NACLibraries, or speaking to library staff direct to find out what's coming soon.

If you didn’t manage to make it to the event or live elsewhere, you can get in touch with your local Dementia Advisor by telephoning 01294 608219 - they can help to provide further information and access to the different support resources and sessions available.