A TIRELESS fundraising group will be hosting a week's worth of tea parties to raise funds for vital specialist dementia nurses.

The campaigners from Swanage and Wareham have devised seven days of fundraising for 2017's Time for a Cuppa, the major awareness week of Dementia UK.

Val Wilson, George Pothecary and Tim and Wenda Lench from Wareham, plus Jean Gibbs and Mo Andrews from Swanage will be holding tea parties, cinema screenings, talks and presentations across the area to raise awareness and funds for more much-needed admiral nurses.

Dementia UK’s Time for a Cuppa week 2017 runs from Wednesday, March 1 to Wednesday, March 8, and everyone is encouraged to throw a tea party to help raise funds for more admiral nurses.

The nurses are specialist dementia nurses who work together with families to provide the one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions they need to live more positively with dementia each and every day.

Val Wilson is holding or attending seven separate tea parties across the week – including a public tea party at the Wareham Town Hall between 10am and 12.30pm on Saturday, March 4, featuring craft stalls, delicious treats and appearances from local dignitaries and personalities.

Val, a retired nurse, cared for her mum for 14 years after she was diagnosed with vascular dementia.

Sadly Val’s mum, Sheila, died in August 2014.

Val said: “I didn’t see myself as mum’s carer; I was a daughter. And because I had been a nurse, my GP thought I was doing fine – but emotionally I was a wreck. It is so important that carers are shown how to care for themselves too, and that’s where admiral nurses come in, offering advice and coping strategies.

This area doesn’t have an admiral nurse – yet. But the thought that, one day, each family on this path will have access to an admiral nurse is helping me turn this experience into something positive.”

There are currently 184 admiral nurses working across England, Scotland and Wales, with a target to have 200 in place by the end of March 2017. Dementia UK’s mission is to eventually provide everyone caring for someone with dementia with access to an admiral nurse.

Anyone with questions or concerns about dementia can call the admiral nursing direct helpline, open seven days a week, on 0800 888 6678.

Register for a free Time for a Cuppa party pack, crammed full of ideas, games, fundraising tips and promotional materials to help organise a tea party, attimeforacuppa.org or call 020 7697 4052.