A new cafe for dementia sufferers is opening in Southport next month

A new Dementia Cafe is opening in Southport this December, promising a warm welcome to people with dementia and to the family members and carers who look after them.

The much-needed ‘Forget Me Not Cafe’ will open at YMCA Southport on Hoghton Street in Southport town centre 10.30am-12.30pm on Wednesday 3^rd December 2025.

The Dementia Cafe is the brainchild of CEO of Southport Community Sports Steve Haworth and volunteer Jenny Bowles.

Steve took over running what was the YMCA community centre nine years ago and set up Southport Community Sports three years ago.

Like so many, Steve and Jenny have experienced family members who have been affected by dementia. In Steve’s case it was uncle, and with Jenny, her father.

Credit: Bertie Cunningham / Southport BID

They want to use the facilities available within the community centre to offer a warm space and friendship to those that suffer directly from the disease and their carers.

Businesses on and around Hoghton Street have supported the initiative as part of a ‘Hoghton Street Cares’ campaign run by Southport Community Sports.

Stokers, Fletchers solicitors, Birkdale Insurance, Harrison Drury, Napthens, The Print Quarter, British Heart Foundation, Waterstones, Dunelm, Dobbies and Stubbs Parkin are all supporting and Sainsbury’s will donate refreshments.

Southport ASDA has also added some festive sparkle by donating a 9ft tall Christmas tree. The Print Quarter has printed some leaflets for the Dementia Cafe, which will be distributed to local GP surgeries and other venues to raise awareness and let families know that it is opening and will soon be available.

Steve and Jenny said:

“We have been busy converting a room in the centre to make it a homely, living room space with old memorabilia, music and activities.

“There is a huge need for somewhere like this in Southport.

“People are welcome to come for a quick hot drink and stay for 20 minutes or spend the whole two hours with us. Drinks and cakes will be available.

“Just turn up, we’d love to see you. We will see how things go – a booking system may be necessary if the cafe gets very busy. We may also extend the opening hours if we need to.

“We are keen to seek the views of people coming about what they would like to see in the cafe, we will be very much guided by them.

“We have both had family members with dementia so we understand the challenges that people face.

“No-one walks in somewhere wearing a badge saying ‘I have dementia’. People with dementia have good moments and they have bad moments. It can be very unpredictable.

“Sometimes you’re not sure where you can take them, but here we’re creating a space which is supportive, calm, relaxing, and non-judgemental.

“It can be very stressful and tough for family members and carers who are with people with dementia, either living with them, or people who have made the difficult decision to admit them into a home. The cafe will offer respite, as well as providing somewhere for support or advice.

“People need companionship. They need to be able to feel that they are not on their own. We are here for them. Just pop in and see some friendly faces.

“The cafe will open its doors on the 3^rd December and will initially run two hour slots during the week. If demand is high, we will extend the hours and add a day.

“Other dates coming up include 10^th December and 17^th December, with January dates being released after Christmas.

“YMCA Southport is the perfect place to open this cafe. It’s a real community hub and it’s centrally located, so easy to get to for people.

“The cafe is accessible too, with a ramp and an accessible toilet both available.

“We have been overwhelmed by the response we have had from local businesses, including from our neighbours here on Hoghton Street.

“We are still appealing for support, both financial and ‘in kind’ so we can maintain the cafe and extend its hours to meet what we know is significant local demand.”