About the Project

   
Deb 4It is now almost 11 years since the public meeting took place which was pivotal in the way that Debenham and its surrounding villages are addressing the challenges of their ageing population. That meeting led to a unique project in which our community has taken responsibility for the welfare and support of those who are family carers looking after someone with dementia, and of meeting the health and social needs of those that they care for.
The Debenham Project has, over the ensuing years, developed a comprehensive range of local volunteer-based services which “draw in” the best professional support. The breadth and quality of the facilities are now “second to none” in the County of Suffolk (and perhaps the UK) and will continue to be expanded and developed in the future.
The project continues to be recognised as an example of innovation and best practice across Suffolk and beyond. It challenges the public sector to respond by initiating, encouraging and supporting its “roll out” to all rural and semi-urban communities. The Debenham Project is established and will continue to evolve and develop its caring approach (Caring in the Community, Caring for the Community, and Caring by the Community) throughout the coming years. Our plans are ambitious, and our aspirations are governed only by:

“If it is not good enough for my mother, it is not good enough”

A great measure of the success of the project is that we all just “get on and do our bit” and thereby it has evolved with the minimum of bureaucracy and the maximum of goodwill and motivation. So it has become accepted as part of our regular pattern of life. Perhaps though, we need an occasional reminder of how special each and everyone’s contributions are – volunteers, participants, professionals, support workers, etc. I am often asked to give presentations about The Debenham Project and sometimes amazed to realize the full extent of everything that goes on.
Since our very early days the Project has continued to evolve so that now we have provided or arranged a very wide range of help and support within the community:

This has all been achieved due entirely to the tremendous goodwill  and freely given support of not only our volunteers, but also of all those professional organisations – the local authorities, the NHS, the charities, and the support agencies – together with local groups, donors, and the community at large.

4th Edition of the The Debenham Project Booklet

Click on the image to download the booklet

Reflections on The Debenham Project


Early in 2016 the Welsh Government launched an initiative to explore the future for dementia care and support in the community. Lynden was asked to give an extended interview explaining how The  Debenham Project came into existence, its philosophies, benefits, and achievements,  and also to share a vision for the future of care for our elderly and frail relatives, friends and neighbours.

Part 1: The start - its development into the early project - the evolution of "what it does" - working with and collaboration with the "professionals" -  after 6 years - "living better with dementia". Video 1
Part 2: The relationship with the Local Authorities and the NHS - the value of well-being - the measurable benefits (statistical and anectodal) and what it means to the community. Video 2
Part 3: A vision for the future: A Comprehensive Community Trust - bottom up person focused not top down service provision - a business model for cost effectiveness - local people caring for local people - reducing demand on hospitals, critical care, and crisis intervention - the problem facing the NHS in meeting the needs of the elderly frail - a new model of care for older persons. Video 3
Part 4: One of our earliest volunteers, Jan McIntyre, talks about her thoughts and experiences of giving her time to The Debenham Project. Apologies for the very poor sound quality in "several" places, but we hope that you can cope with itb. Video 4

 

The Four Mile Rule and other Lessons

Following a presentation to an audience in South Wales in March 2016, we realised that although what we actually do in The Debenham Project is relatively well known and recognised locally, regionally, and even nationally, we haven't tried to capture the philosophies, the way it works, the key elements of its success, etc. So we have provided a “narrative” to each of the slides in that presentation. We hope that it proves helpful in understanding not only the what, but also some of the why, when, who and how, and that it will help in encouraging other rural communities in supporting those affected by the impact of dementia on their lives. Click here for "The Four Mile Rule" PowerPoint presentation or here  to download it as as a pdf document