Cumnock Juniors: Community hoping to team up with charity

The Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland are a charity and social enterprise that uses the power of remembering and talking about sport – along with physical exercise – to tackle dementia, depression, and loneliness in older people.

After a meeting in Cumnock to see the work the CJCE carries out in the community, they are going to run a sporting memories taster session in the new year, with the hope of turning it into a regular session.

Discussions have also been held with East Ayrshire Community Hospital about putting on programmes to help with the dementia ward in Cumnock.

A CJCE spokesperson said: "We were delighted today to welcome Jim Purvis and Donna Mackey from The Sporting Memories Foundation Scotland.

"Donna the partnerships manager and Jim who is a delivery and practice co-ordinator popped along to hear about the work that CJCE do in the community tackling social isolation and the connections that we have.

"[Club development officer at CJCE] Derek King had met Jim through playing walking football, with Jim playing for Giffnock in the National Competitions.

"A wee chat developed into where both worked and today Jim brought Donna along for further discussion to progress working together.

"We are now going to run a taster session in the New Year for Sporting memories and also hope to create regular sessions.

"Townhead Strollers Walking Football Club have already been in discussion with East Ayrshire Community Hospital about organising a walking football/memories programme for the Dementia Ward.

"The support that SMF will provide will help with that too."