A project which helps people who have dementia in Nailsea has received a cash boost.

Ella Jarrett presented £560 to Memories At The Barn which helps her grandmother who has been diagnosed with dementia.

Ella ran the Great Bristol Half Marathon to raise the funds to say thank you to the people behind the ‘fantastic’ service.

She said: “My nanny suffers with dementia and The Memory Café is so fantastic, not only in supporting those suffering with the disease, but those caring for them. My mum, who cares for my nanny, finds it invaluable.”

Memories At The Barn is run by the Nailsea Tithe Barn Trust and it provides free access to dementia-friendly activities including The Memory Café, Music and Memories and Silver Screen Memories.

The café is a support group for those caring for someone living with dementia.

Carers can meet fellow helpers and visiting professionals to receive support while their loved ones are looked after or engaged in activities led by café co-ordinators, Karen Smith and Alison Steer.

Karen Smith said: “The funds Ella has so kindly raised will help enable Memories At The Barn to continue providing these community groups, which are vital to ensure that anyone living with dementia has the opportunity to remain engaged in the community, retain a sense of belonging and not become isolated at home.”

Music and Memories was the first dementia project to be set up and it focuses on using music to stimulate positive memories.

David Francis, the lead trustee for dementia projects, said: “It has been a long-held vision that Nailsea’s tithe barn should become a centre for a range of activities to support local people who have dementia and their carers.

“The calm, reassuring and historic ambience of the barn and the excellent access and facilities for disabled people make it an ideal location.

“We are so very grateful to Ella for all the effort she put in to raise this incredible amount to support the dementia projects we run at the barn, it will also help fund our proposed carer training sessions in the spring.”

More details about the groups can be found at www.nailseatithebarn.co.uk or on 07790 344559.