COUNCILLORS have agreed to award the Wellington-based Reminiscence Learning charity funding of £20,000 – although that amounts to £42,432 less than what the organisation had applied for.

Reminiscence Learning is working towards making the town a dementia inclusive community – where people living with dementia are supported by the local community.

The charity has in recent years been awarded funding lifelines by Wellington Town Council known as Service Level Agreements (SLA) stretching over three years.

The most recent SLA came to an end on March 31 and the charity applied for a new three-year agreement — requesting £20,000 in year one, £20,800 in year two and then £21,632 in year three to help support its various activities.

Charity chief executive, Fiona Mahoney, told members of the council’s policy and finance committee on April 20: “We are proud of what we are doing and we are working very hard.”

But Cllr Justin Cole then asked a series of questions which made councillors think that perhaps they should only award a one-year funding package and then re-evaluate the situation.

He asked what the size of the “dementia community” in Wellington was and questioned whether the SLA represented a “small amount of people and a large amount of money.”

Fiona said: “We don’t know the actual number of people with dementia in Wellington. We are trying to get answers on that – we’ve asked the question a thousand times, but nobody can tell us.”

She suggested that there were around 200 to 300 people affected by dementia in Wellington and although “not a massive amount” the charity was making a positive difference to their lives.

But Cllr Cole responded: “Is Reminiscence Learning making an impact? There doesn’t seem to be any data about the successes and how the money is making an impact?”

Fiona said: “We measure success by carers coming to us and saying we’re their lifeline. We don’t receive any Government funding and I feel sad that’s what you (Cllr Cole) are thinking. I’m guessing you (Cllr Cole) haven’t been touched by dementia in your family?”

Cllr Cole told the meeting the council was spending a lot of money on the community sector – even more since opening the Kings Arms Community Hub.

“I think we’re in a different place now with SLAs than we were before and there’s a danger we’re getting things crossing over between projects,” he said. “Perhaps we need to look at what we’re doing rather than giving out money to organisations.”

But Cllr John Thorne said: “My family has been touched by dementia and I have seen the work which Reminiscence Learning does and it’s brilliant.”

Cllr Andy Govier said: “I’ve been a strong supporter of Reminiscence Learning, but I’m mindful of what Cllr Cole is saying. I do think he’s right – we haven’t had that holistic look at what we are doing.

“I think we should award a one-year SLA and then look at the overall package again. I think that would be fair.”

Councillors voted in favour of awarding Reminiscence Learning a one-year SLA.