Kent Cricket Community Trust delivers ‘Memories of Cricket Tea’

Kent Cricket Community Trust (KCCT) (formerly Kent Cricket Development Trust) is delighted to announce, on World Alzheimer’s Day, the successful delivery of its first new community initiative, “Memories of Cricket Tea”.

The event took place at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence on Monday 20 September in The Oriole at Lime Tree Café.

25 residents, their families, and carers from Avante Care & Support’s Bridge Haven and Chaucer House care homes attended.

Avante care for people living with Dementia, and the “cricket tea” event provided the chance for their residents to share memories of cricket at the home of 2021’s Vitality Blast Champions.

The event was a great success and was only possible with the support and planning of KCCT’s partners, Avante Care & Support, The Oriole at Lime Tree Café, and Brachers Solicitors.

Staff from Kent Cricket’s Community team and Brachers engaged with Avantes’ residents and staff over a superb cricket tea, sharing their own experiences of playing or watching cricket in front of the victorious Kent Men’s First XI in a practice session before their final home match of the 2021 season.

Avante Care & Support operate 10 specialist dementia and nursing care homes across Kent, Bexley and Greenwich.

Avante and KCCT Trustee, Michael Wilshaw, said: “After 18 months of almost total lockdown across the care home sector, residents, their families and staff from our two Canterbury care homes Bridge Haven and Chaucer House, thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to safely visit The Spitfire Ground and share their memories over a cricket tea provided by the wonderful staff at ‘The Oriole’”.

Bridge Haven Home Manager, Kim, said: ‘We were delighted to be invited to attend KCCT’s first ‘Memories of Cricket Tea’ event and watch residents interacting and reviving cricket memories with the Kent Cricket community team whilst enjoying a delightful afternoon tea. We were so grateful to be able to extend the invitation out to Fred, resident Olive’s husband and also Larry who uses the day care service at Bridge Haven, both of which thoroughly enjoyed the day’.

Brachers Solicitors, are proud supporters of the Dementia Friends campaign, championed by Mary Rimmer a Partner in the firm’s Private Client team. Dementia Friends is a social action movement which sees individuals being trained by the Alzheimer’s Society to become a Dementia Friend Champion. Champions hold information sessions focusing on the personal impact of dementia, spreading awareness and creating Dementia Friends.

KCCT Chairman, Stuart Butler-Gallie, said: “It is entirely appropriate that after a weekend on which so many amazing memories have been made for Kent Cricket’s fans, that the Club’s Community Trust should help those living with dementia and their carers to remember their own experiences of cricket or just to enjoy a wonderful tea and conversation at the home of Kent Cricket.

Stuart added: “This event could not have taken place without the help and contribution of our friends at Avante Care & Support, The Oriole at Lime Tree Café and Brachers, further reinforcing the fact that ‘Together, we are Kent’”.