During the lockdown, our Kindred Spirits group have been meeting virtually once a fortnight, so last week the group was delighted to be able to have a socially distanced meet up.

Kindred Spirits is a group for people diagnosed with dementia under the age of 65 however we also welcome carers, family and friends.

We had decided as a group that it would be good for us to have a lunchtime picnic on the promenade in Gravesend. The site was risk assessed (naturally we also had a recce to see how close we could set up to be near the ice cream stand!) and we sent out joining instructions with a copy of the risk assessment to all those who said that they would like to come along.

So on the day, everyone brought a chair to sit on as well as their sandwiches, cakes and drinks, setting up in a nice socially distanced half circle. Although most of us had met via Zoom meetings some of the group were meeting up for the first time since lockdown which was really good to see.

Luckily the weather held up although the forecast was for rain, but even if there had been some rain, I don’t think it would have deterred the group, everyone had brought umbrellas!

The two hours passed so quickly but then time does fly when you are having fun.

It was good to see so many happy smiley faces.  We can’t wait to do something like this again!

“It was lovely see everyone, it certainly makes you feel normal, or as back to normal as we can be”