Ocean Memories
Published on 20 July 2022 10:35 AM
The Aquarium and Age UK Plymouth have partnered up to launch the first ever Quiet at the Aquarium: Ocean Memories.
Age UK Plymouth and Ocean Conservation Trust, the organisation that runs National Marine Aquarium have partnered up to further their commitment to creating a dementia friendly community in the City of Plymouth.
Quiet at the Aquarium has been a staple of the National Marine Aquarium’s calendar and now a special dementia friendly session Ocean Memories is due to take place on World Alzheimer’s Day Wednesday 21st September, during World Alzheimer’s Month. Visitors will be able to explore all of the exhibits without the normal daytime crowds, a more relaxed lighting, screens turned off and no daily shows, so the focus is truly on the amazing animals.
Tara Dale, Head of Fundraising at Age UK Plymouth said, “We’re thrilled to have been able to be a part of the NMA expanding their programme of Quiet at the Aquarium sessions. It’s fantastic that the team at the aquarium are so aware that inclusive sessions are not one size fits all. What one visitor might benefit from might be a barrier for another to enjoy the incredible facilities, and we will be able to help staff and volunteers understand that by delivering dementia awareness training to colleagues at the NMA. It’s really exciting for us to partner up with local organisations and businesses to create the foundations of a dementia friendly city. In the future we hope that having an inclusive approach becomes the way that many companies operate by default.”
Age UK Plymouth have also recently announced that their Dementia Awareness Training will be rolled out to colleagues and volunteers at the National Marine Aquarium. Part of a new series of training and information now available from Age UK Plymouth, the sessions are available in several different formats and can be modified to suit a range of organisations, from schools and youth groups to businesses looking to support and equip public facing members of staff with the tools to best serve their patrons and community. The training describes the experience of living with dementia in a way that will help attendees visualise it and increase their understanding.
Freyja Thomson, Public and Community Engagement Coordinator at the National Marine Aquarium said, “We’re so excited to be working with Age UK Plymouth and engaging with their Dementia Awareness Programme. As an organisation we work with older people through our Ocean for All programme, taking the Ocean to care facilities across the country. The training will help with the teams confidence in delivering these sessions as well as supporting visitors at the aquarium.”
Tammy Walker, Training and Wellbeing Dementia Lead for Age UK Plymouth has years of first-hand experience of working with people living with dementia and is thrilled to be rolling out the awareness training across Plymouth. “It’s more important than ever that organisations and businesses are committed to dementia education and choose to raise awareness from within. There are over 100 types of dementia, it is a complex condition affecting one in 14 people over the age of 65 in the UK but we can make tiny changes to support visitors, customers or colleagues living with dementia that can make a huge difference to their experience.”
If you’re interested in finding out more about the various forms of free Dementia Awareness Training available for your group or business please email tammy.walker@ageukplymouth.org.uk.
Tickets for Ocean Memories are available now at https://www.national-aquarium.co.uk/events/quiet-at-the-aquarium/