We are delighted to announce that we have been successful in our bid to Wembley National Stadium Trust for funding to establish a dementia cafe at SJP as part of our growing involvement in mental health issues in the London Borough of Brent.

The aim of the project is to serve the needs of the 55+ age group, their families and carers, to provide a place where they can relax, talk to people who understand and to feel included. We also intend to provide physical activities including walking football, keep fit classes and chair exercises for those with mobility issues, and gardening over the coming months.

The project will be set up by Rob Morris and delivered through our new Community Officer Dave Young-Phombeah, with assistance from Chiraag Patel from Body Conscious in conjunction with CAD Brent, Dementia Cafes Brent and the Alzheimers Society.

Separately we have also been awarded a grant by Middlesex FA to expand the Brent Mental Health Football Project to two afternoons a week. The project has been a great success since it began in June 2017, generating a lot of media coverage and interest from other football clubs as well as other mental health sectors of the NHS.

Last year the project won the Middlesex FA Community Project of the Year award and great credit for the positive improvements in the lives of those taking part must go to Richard Hay and his early intervention team at Brent Adult Social Services who run the sessions, as well as Rob Morris and Tom Stockman at SJP for their continued support and involvement.

Many thanks go to both Wembley National Stadium Trust and Middlesex FA for their valued support and encouragement in both of these projects.