The Greatham Foundation Awarded Hartlepool Dementia Support Contract

The Greatham Foundation already delivers dementia support services in the community and is delighted to be continuing this work. With many years of experience supporting people living with dementia and their families, The Greatham Foundation remains committed to making sure people feel supported, connected, and understood.

The Greatham Foundation’s vision for Hartlepool is simple but powerful: that no person living with dementia, nor their family or carers, ever feels alone.

What the service will provide
The Greatham Foundation will offer practical, caring support for people living with dementia and their carers from the early stages through to more advanced needs.

Key services include:

The Bridge – advice and peer support
A welcoming first point of contact for people who are newly diagnosed or looking for guidance. The Bridge offers information, advice, signposting, and peer support through groups, coffee mornings, and community events.

The Heathers Day Centre
A dementia-friendly day centre in Hartlepool offering structured days, freshly prepared hot meals, accessible transport, meaningful activities, and social time with others. This also provides much-needed respite for family carers.

Community Pastimes
Small group and one-to-one activities in local community venues, based around people’s interests such as arts, music, leisure, and social activities.

Later this year, The Bridge service will relocate to The Heathers (Heather Grove, Hartlepool), creating a single, more joined-up hub for dementia support. The Heathers site will also be home to a new Almshouse development, helping to strengthen support for older people in the community.

Support for the whole family
Support is tailored to each person and adapts as needs change. People and carers can access services by phone, email, drop-in, website, or social media. 

The service also offers:
• Support for families and carers throughout the dementia journey
• Advice, training, and peer support for carers
• Activities that support wellbeing, confidence, and mental health
• Help to stay healthy and connected within the community

Supporting Hartlepool’s Dementia Strategy
There are currently around 1,300 people diagnosed with dementia in Hartlepool, and numbers are expected to rise significantly in the coming years. The Greatham Foundation’s work supports Hartlepool’s newly published Dementia Strategy, helping people get support earlier and stay connected.

Deborah Lewis-Bynoe, Chief Executive Officer at The Greatham Foundation said:
"We are very proud to have been awarded this contract by Hartlepool Borough Council. Supporting people living with dementia and their families has been at the heart of our work for many years. We are committed to providing kind, practical support and making sure no one who has dementia ever feels alone."

Councillor Gary Allen, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Adult Services and Public Health Committee, said: “We are absolutely committed to giving people living with dementia – and their carers – the very best support we can.

“This new contract further strengthens our relationship with The Greatham Foundation, whose experience and deep roots in the community make a real difference to local families.

“Together, we will drive forward the Dementia Strategy and ensure that those living with dementia in Hartlepool receive the support and dignity they deserve.”