Twiddlemuffs stimulate Rotherham dementia sufferers

TOYS and Twiddlemuffs were the products of a week of fund-raising by community minded teenagers.

Students from the National Citizen Service (NCS) chose to raise funds for dementia patients and children’s ward kids at Rotherham Hospital.

One NCS team spend the £600 they raised with a run and cycle-athon at a local gym, a charity car wash and a tombola on toys, activity sets, DVD players and tablet computers for children to enjoy during their stay on the ward.

Another team pulled in £300 with a cake bake and raffle event in Rotherham Hospital's main entrance area and a sponsored walk and promoted dementia awareness on social media activity.

The fundsraised will be used to launch the new Dementia Care initiative, Twiddlemuffs.

Twiddlemuffs are a knitted-hand muff with “bits and bobs” attached inside and out, which area designed to provide simple stimulation for people with dementia who often have active hands.

NCS is a summer holiday scheme which helps young people build skills for work and life, while taking on new challenges and meeting new friends.

Tracy Williams, charity development officer for Rotherham Hospital Charity, said: “I would like to say a special thank you to the two groups of NCS students who have chosen to support Rotherham Hospital Charity, their enthusiasm and proactive approach to fundraising has been amazing.

“Collectively, the two groups have raised almost £1000 and every penny is being spent on enhancing patient experience for both elderly patients and children who have a stay in hospital.”