Minibus donation brings new hope to The Willows Dementia Hub

The fully accessible 17-seater vehicle, which includes four wheelchair bays, was gifted by Dennis Wise

The Willows Dementia Hub has taken a significant step towards enhancing the quality of life for its residents and Comfort Day service users, following the donation of a brand-new minibus.

The fully accessible 17-seater vehicle, which includes four wheelchair bays, was gifted by Dennis Wise in The Community, a charitable initiative led by former footballer Dennis Wise.

The hub had initially launched a series of fundraising events in a bid to raise thousands of pounds to purchase a minibus.

The aim was to provide more opportunities for residents to enjoy days out, which promote their health and wellbeing.

However, their fundraising efforts took an unexpected and heartening turn when Jamie Lomas, son of one of the residents, connected with Dennis Wise in The Community. Following several discussions, the organisation generously donated a fully-equipped minibus to the hub.

Gail Whitehead, chief officer at The Willows, expressed her gratitude for the surprise donation. She said: "We were all surprised and delighted when we first heard from Dennis Wise in The Community and their generous donation of a minibus, we couldn’t quite believe it at first.

"I am certain that all our residents and Comfort Day service users will benefit from this, and we are all excited to see what adventures lie ahead. This will start to open up new opportunities to take them for days out, visit places they used to go to, and enjoy the seaside and countryside."

The new minibus will now allow The Willows Dementia Hub to organise regular trips, with plans to run day outings four times a week. These trips are intended to provide both a change of scenery and the opportunity for residents to visit familiar locations, enhancing their sense of independence and joy.

Gail also acknowledged the community’s ongoing support for the hub’s fundraising efforts, adding: “We want to give a massive thank you to everybody who has supported us so far with our fundraising events.

All money raised from those events will go directly to The Willows Dementia Hub, and will help with the invaluable work we do to support people living with dementia.”

The minibus is set to make a significant impact, offering residents more freedom and a renewed connection to the world beyond the hub’s walls.