Hundreds of people with dementia and their carers from across the county will get help and support thanks to a grant from Devonshire Freemasons to the Seachange charity.
The £56,000 grant will fund Living Well Together: Dementia Support, a three-year project designed to improve wellbeing, independence, and quality of life for those affected by dementia across Woodbury, Exmouth, and Budleigh Salterton. The grant will contribute to the delivery of two key services: the expansion of Seachange’s popular Memory Café and the launch of a new outreach programme using cutting-edge OMI MOBII interactive sensory technology.
Seachange’s Memory Café, held twice weekly at its dementia-friendly centre in Budleigh Salterton, currently supports up to 40 people each week. It provides structured, meaningful activities—such as music, seated exercise, craft, quizzes, and intergenerational sessions with the onsite nursery—designed to boost cognitive function and reduce isolation. The sessions also offer essential respite and emotional support for carers.
Building on this strong foundation, the new outreach programme will take the OMI MOBII system—an interactive, light-based sensory tool—directly into people’s homes, care settings, and community spaces. Previously available only onsite, this expansion allows Seachange to engage people unable to travel, offering stimulation, engagement, and a potential gateway into further support.
East Devon has a significantly high proportion of older adults living with dementia—seven per cent of over-65s, above the national average. Budleigh alone has twice the national proportion of people over 85, while areas such as Littleham in Exmouth are among the most deprived in the country. The project was shaped by consultation with over 400 residents, 70 local organisations, and health professionals, who identified a clear gap in accessible, local dementia support.
Over its three-year lifespan, Living Well Together: Dementia Support aims to deliver over 300 Memory Café sessions and reach up to 1,080 people through outreach. The project also supports carers by reducing loneliness and improving wellbeing. Outcomes will be measured through regular feedback, attendance records, and carer interviews, with a goal of seeing at least 80 per cent of carers report improvements in their loved one’s wellbeing.
By combining expert staff, committed volunteers, and innovative technology, Seachange Devon continues to build a more connected and compassionate community for those affected by dementia.
The grant from Devonshire Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.
Seachange Head, Marc Jobson said:
“We’re incredibly grateful to Devonshire Freemasons for their generous support. This grant will enable us to reach some of the most vulnerable people in our community—particularly those who are isolated, hard to reach, or living in rural areas—with life-enhancing dementia support.”
Anthony Eldred, Charity lead for Devonshire Freemasons, said:
“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to help Seachange with their vital project. People who develop dementia find it a difficult and lonely experience and Seachange’s Memory Café and outreach programme will do a great deal to make their lives easier. It will also offer much needed support to carers who are often forgotten.”
