Real stories

Running a café to remember my mum and fundraise for dementia

In 2019, I returned from my role as a kindergarten teacher in Hong Kong to look after my parents.

Mam had dementia and, during the pandemic, her health rapidly declined. She was a social butterfly who loved chatting with her neighbours.

When we could go out for walks, we visited Rumney Hill Gardens, somewhere I’d visited as a child.

Here we found out about a volunteer-run garden project and café and immediately signed up to help.

Over time, I was asked to take over running the café.It was a huge responsibility, so I wasn’t completely sure it was the right time for me. But when dad passed away, it gave both mam and me a focus and a real sense of purpose.

Fundraising for Alzheimer’s Society

Mam was a great strength to me and, when she passed away in 2023, my mental health went into decline.

Talking with a friend Lynn, a volunteer at the café, helped me realise I needed a focus and purpose in life. So I re-opened the café with a new name: The Olive Tree.

Olive was mam’s name, so it was fitting to honour her and also celebrate the natural world and growth, hence the ‘Tree’.

Before moving to Hong Kong I worked in a hotel, so running a café wasn’t an entirely new experience.

It started small, but it’s thriving and growing into a wonderful community space, with all profits going to Alzheimer’s Society.

Creating a dementia-friendly space

The café is a peaceful haven, located at the entrance to Rumney Hill Gardens. It has a short pathway lined with colourful flowers and shrubs.

It’s been described as ‘grandma’s front room’ inside. It’s small and quaint, full of pictures, books and vintage teapots that help customers reminisce about the past.

We have four tables inside and a further three outside in the warmer weather. There’s also a bench, kindly donated by the council, inscribed with mam’s name.

It’s a wonderful place for people to sit, relax and reflect. We’re also dog friendly and always have plenty of treats to share!

Behind the café, we’re fortunate to have a ‘secret garden’ with a memory tree. Anyone can come here to plant flowers, shrubs or trees in memory of their loved ones.

We have raised over £6,500 so far for Alzheimer’s Society, selling drinks, cakes and snacks, local honey and crafts made by volunteers and supporters. We also hold summer craft fairs.

Raising awareness about dementia

I’m lucky to have a fantastic team of volunteers. They have all been affected by dementia in one way or another, and have experienced grief and loss.

We’re excited about our plans for the future. We aim to open more days, develop the secret garden and plan more community fundraising activities.

At the start of this journey, my mental health was fragile and the responsibility was daunting. At times, I questioned whether I had the strength to continue.

Gradually, I realised that being around people helped me and, at the same time, I was helping them too!

I am regaining my energy – I’ve completed the Memory Walk in Cardiff and I’m thinking about taking part in Trek26 too.

I love being at the café, it’s a brilliant way to support others and raise awareness about dementia too.

It’s great that people from both the local community and beyond come here to relax, have tea and cake and chat.

A customer recently told me, ‘It’s a safe space,’ and that’s really magic!