New poetry booklet to raise funds for dementia services

The introduction to the booklet has been written by award-winning writer, Joanne Harris.

Supported by staff from the Society's Aylesbury office, the volunteers have held a number of successful poetry workshops within the dementia community and the booklet showcases the results of these sessions, along with photographs taken by a local carer. It is available in printed form and also as an eBook via Amazon and Smashwords and all profits will go to Alzheimer's Society.

Margaret Morgan-Owen, volunteer and long-term carer, said,

'We initially held a poetry reading session and were surprised at how popular it was, so we decided to try a workshop to encourage people living with dementia to express themselves. The great thing about that workshop was the release of emotion; we laughed a lot and really enjoyed playing with words. Then people came forward with their poems, some of whom had never written before, and we thought it would be fantastic to produce this fundraising book.'

The launch event will take place at The Firs, High Street, Whitchurch HP22 4JU and will be attended by the Mayor of Aylesbury.

For further information on the book, have a look at the website or contact the volunteers by emailing gloriouslyus@hotmail.co.uk. Order forms are also available from the Aylesbury office of Alzheimer's Society. If you would like to book a place at the launch, please contact Claire Marriott on 0794 153 7859.