People with memory issues and those who look after them can socialise in a supportive and friendly environment at three cafes in Epping Forest this month.

The district’s largest emergency food agency 3Food4U is staging its 3Social&WarmPlace4U social and memory cafes in Loughton, Ongar and Waltham Abbey during March.

Its free to attend a session and the cafes are open to anyone who would like to socialise, and are dementia friendly for people with varying degrees of memory issues and those who love and care for them.

Epping Forest Guardian: Three memory and social cafes are to be held this monthThree memory and social cafes are to be held this month (Image: 3Food4U)

The cafes are activity based with singing, word games, puzzles, bingo and more with free light refreshments. No booking is required. For further information call 01992 842642.

This month’s sessions will take place on:

  • Thursday, March 9: 2pm to 4pm at Loughton Club 8 Station Road Loughton IG10 4NX (then second Thursday of each month).
  • Wednesday, March 15: 10am to 12pm at Parish of High Ongar St James' Church Hall Ongar CM5 9EL (then third Wednesday of each month).
  • Friday, March 31: 2.30pm to 4.30pm at Waltham Abbey Baptist Church EN9 1ER (then last Friday of each month).

3Food4U has thanked Find Your Active - West Essex, Right at Home, Loughton, Redbridge and Waltham Forest and Home Instead - Epping Forest for their support in holding the cafes.

Epping Forest Guardian:

Mirka Marri from Find Your Active - West Essex said: "Another fantastic session at Waltham Abbey. So many people were dancing and singing. Apologies for the wobbly video, but I could not help moving too!

I met so many wonderful people who demonstrated that age is just a number!"

Epping Forest Guardian: Alison Lyons from Right at Home with 3Food4U's chair of trustees Pesh KapasiawalaAlison Lyons from Right at Home with 3Food4U's chair of trustees Pesh Kapasiawala (Image: 3Food4U)

Alison Lyons from Right at Home said "Thank you to 3Food4U for welcoming me at your food hub in Loughton. The work you do is amazing and I am honoured you let me be a part of it."

The charity has a fundraising page at https://www.stewardship.org.uk/partners/20356308.

The community surplus hubs are open as follows:

  • Monday: Waltham Abbey - 13 Sun Street - 11.30am to 1pm
  • Tuesday: Loughton - Loughton Club, 8 Station Road - 11.30am to 1pm
  • Wednesday: Chigwell Row - All Saints Church Hall, Romford Road - 5pm to 6.30pm
  • Thursday: Ongar - Zinc Arts Centre, High Street - 1pm to 2.30pm
  • Friday: Waltham Abbey - 13, Sun Street - 11.30am to 1pm

For further details, visit 3food4u.org, email info.3food4u@gmail.com or call 01992 842642.