WELLINGTON Town Council has agreed to financially back dementia care charity Reminiscence Learning on a long-term basis.

Members of the council decided at their latest meeting to award the organisation, based at Tonedale, a grant of £3,000 each year for the next three years under what is known as a Service Level Agreement.

This will help support two areas of its work – successful community sessions at Tonedale Mill for people with dementia and their carers/family members, and Forest School Plus, a new initiative that aims to provide activities for more active adults with dementia.

Town clerk Greg Dyke told the council’s finance committee it would be an ideal project to get involved in with a SLA.

“This would mean that the town council would guarantee a level of funding for the next three years and the development of the organisation’s aims would be closely monitored to see that it was achieving those aims and developing further,” he said.

Cllr John Thorne said: “They do tick the boxes for applying for other funding and they are reliant on us every year for funding.

“An SLA would give them some stability over a three-year period and they wouldn’t have to keep applying to us.

“They are very active and I know they have reports in the local paper on a regular basis.”

Cllr Marcus Barr said: “There should be more support for people who are living with someone who has dementia. It’s scary the number of people in Wellington with dementia.”

The Mayor, Cllr Gary James, added: “Reminiscence Learning has been long-standing in Wellington for a number of years. We ought to be supporting them.”

Town clerk Mr Dyke told councillors discussions had already taken place with Reminiscence Learning about entering into an SLA.

The recommendation to support Reminiscence Learning with an SLA was later ratified by the full council of Wellington Town Council.