PramaLife is a Dorset charity that provides care and opportunities for vulnerable older people.

PramaLife’s focus is on reducing isolation and loneliness. In addition, we support those living with dementia, brain injury and carers.

PramaLife currently manages over 55 clubs, groups and activities across Poole and East Dorset including Memory Lane Groups (for those living with dementia), Sporting Memories (dementia and reminiscence friendship clubs), Museum Memories (dementia and reminiscence friendship clubs), Carers Support Groups, Befriending services, Community Connectors (this is a buddying/ befriending scheme to re-integrate people back into community-based activities), Coffee Mornings, Knit and Natter Groups, Art and Craft Activities and Exercise Clubs, such as Arm Chair Keep Fit.

We work with over 2,078 people who attend these activities each month, the majority of whom would otherwise be lonely, isolated or facing social exclusion. 

We are developing the community kitchen project to bring elderly people together through the cooking and consumption of food.

We are planning: soup mornings, cookery and baking days, lunch clubs, a subsidised meal delivery services and general events for local residents and the wider community.

We estimate that over 1000 people will benefit from the kitchen in the first year and many more the year afterwards. We have determined this figure by taking the number of people that attend our weekly groups at Old Rope Walk, include those that attend our various events, the number of older people that live on site and the people that have asked for us to provide meals at Old Rope Walk.

We have identified the following outcomes which will be achieved in the short and long term for older people:

People are more connected, e.g. we will be able to offer better quality meals and events bringing people together so that they can make new friendships or sustain existing new ones.

People develop new skills; we are designing the kitchen so that it is age friendly e.g. people do not have to bend down to use the key appliances and there will be more space to access the various areas of the kitchen. 

As noted above, the kitchen will also be used to help develop people’s cooking skills. For some older people they may have to adapt their approach to cooking because of disability and for others due to a change in circumstance e.g. bereavement they may not have many cooking skills because their partner undertook that role. 

People are healthier, e.g. they will be eating more nutritious meals and learning to cook better meals. 

Also, for some older volunteers, the physical activity of cooking will help them. 

People will be able to give more, which will contribute to increased well-being, e.g. cooking for other people.

The money will be spent on providing new kitchen equipment for the new community kitchen at Old Rope Walk in Poole.

We have already secured funding to pay for all building and electrical works.

Please can you support us to make this a reality.