The Harlequins Foundation was delighted to welcome back some of the local residents of Richmond and Twickenham including Nino Nado’s Twickenham and Bluebird Care Home to The Imagination Café at The Stoop on the 5th July for a second time.

The Imagination Café, a pop-up installation devised by Professor Victoria Tischler, Head of Dementia Care Centre at University of West London headed to The Stoop for a second time to share a breadth of creative approaches to dementia care. These creative approaches include specialised dementia friendly refreshments and interactive activities to stimulate the senses. The event is supported by The Harlequins Foundation, Harlequin FC, University of West London and CW+ the official charity of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

During the Imagination Café people took part in activities especially designed for those living with dementia. These included tactile arts and crafts, dancing and fun rugby based activates. Harlequin players, Jade Konkel, Leah Lyons and Mark Lambert were on hand for a dance as the Shirt Tail Stompers transported everyone back to their younger days with some of the well known tunes of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.

Mark Lambert said “I found The Imagination Cafe a really positive and uplifting experience. You could see from the way both carers and the cared for engaged with everything that it was a successful morning for all. My personal highlight was the brilliant live music and getting shown up on the dance floor by some experienced dancers! I look forward to the next one.”