Balham Library- A Dementia Friendly Space

From Dementia Café to “The Forget‑Me‑Not Group”: how a library became a dementia‑friendly space 

By Robe Hayes – Balham Library

Two summers ago, we began as a small Dementia Café in the library, averaging around 4 members weekly. In July 2025 we re‑named to The Forget‑Me‑Not Group, a weekly meeting with around 20 members. A gentle space for people with memory problems, their carers and friends. The change of name marked something more than just numbers: a commitment to inclusion, dignity and a sense of belonging. We’re a public library, yes but on Thursday mornings, our study room is transformed, we’re a living room, a memory box, a puzzle club, a choir and sometimes just a quiet place to exhale.

We’ve aligned our approach with the Dementia Friendly Venues Charter, which sets out practical ways cultural spaces can welcome people affected by dementia, through things like relaxed sessions, clear signage, quiet zones and staff training. 

What would someone notice first as they walk in? A calm environment, easy lighting and clear, high‑contrast signs to the loos, lift and exit. A quiet space from the hustle and bustle of the busy high road outside. Readable dementia friendly, fonts used for leaflets. A warm greeting from staff who’ve done dementia awareness training and know that the small things, time, patience and eye contact all make a difference.

Our activities are flexible by design: reminiscence with memory box for dementia, gentle singing, tactile crafts and large‑print puzzles and games laid out so people can choose what feels right that day. Tea is ceremonial; it slows the rhythm, lets conversation flow, and gives carers a chance to connect with one another.

Without spaces like this, too many people slip into isolation, not for lack of goodwill, but because the world often moves a little too fast. The Forget‑Me‑Not Group offers a counter‑space: slower, kinder, co‑created with participants and carers. As a library team, we’re in it for the long haul. Our role isn’t clinical; it’s community, reducing stigma by making dementia part of everyday life.

What makes it special? We’re porous. A staff member pauses to chat on their break. A parent and toddler help with a jigsaw. A local café makes a donation. Small bridges like these say: you belong here.

• For people living with dementia: We see small increases in confidence, in tiny but powerful ways. Someone who once sat quiet and apart now takes an active part in craft activities, while others arrive early to chat and monitor the group’s biscuit & cake donations. Familiar faces and a predictable routine build a sense of safety and trust.

• For carers: The group offers breathing space and peer support. Being able to say “me too” to someone who understands lifts the weight, even if only for a few hours.

• For our wider community: Regulars ask about dementia, exhibitions and performances; we’ve noticed a quiet ripple of awareness, and a slow willingness to adjust.

Local businesses have stepped in with sponsorship for materials and refreshments. It’s modest but meaningful, and it anchors the group in the life of our high street.

We chose the GLA Dementia Friendly Venues Charter self‑accreditation portal to benchmark our practice. The step‑by‑step questions helped us audit everything from signage to programming, and the framework resources prompted several useful tweaks (for example, adding a “What to Expect Today” board and mapping a clearer route to the quiet corner). We’d recommend it to any cultural venue starting or strengthening its dementia‑friendly journey. 

The Charter’s guidance, developed with Alzheimer’s Society and the Museum of London, was especially helpful in shaping staff confidence and our approach to relaxed sessions. 

We’re continuing to learn with carers, local businesses and local organisations. Next on our list: co‑designing a sensory map of the library, expanding our intergenerational sessions, and inviting more lived‑experience voices to steer the programme.

If you run a cultural space, big or small, please consider becoming a dementia‑friendly venue.