Leeds company brightens Christmas for Yorkshire families dealing with dementia

The Leeds branch of a national lift company has given a donation to a volunteer group that provides an important lifeline for people with dementia, their families and carers – and they are spending it on a Christmas party.

Pickerings Lifts, based in Tingley, has made a donation to the Cosy Corner Memory Café in Woodlesford which helps support people affected by dementia.

The Cosy Corner Memory Café is a pop-up event held on the first Thursday of the month at the Two Pointers pub, in Woodlesford. It offers social and emotional support to people with dementia and a chance for families and carers to meet others in similar situations.

The £200 donation will be used to pay for a Christmas party for the group.

Jimmy Richardson, regional manager at Pickerings Lifts, said: “Living with dementia at any time brings challenges but the pandemic is making daily life even harder. The Cosy Corner Memory Café does a wonderful job of providing people affected by dementia with a place they can turn to for regular support, advice and a nice warm cuppa.”

Pickerings Lifts is committed to supporting its local communities across the UK and are involved in a large number of charity-focused initiatives that improve the lives and outcomes of local people.

Pauline Hope, who runs Cosy Corner Memory Café, said: “I’m involved in running a number of social groups in the village including an art group, a mental health group and the Cosy Corner Memory Café which help people come together to support each other. My ultimate goal is to ensure all public spaces and places in our community are dementia-friendly.

“I’m delighted to accept this donation – the Cosy Corner Memory Café group will now enjoy a lovely festive celebration, thanks to Pickerings Lifts.”

Pickerings Lifts, a fifth generation family-owned business, is the UK’s leading lift specialist. Established over 160 years ago, Pickerings has a national network of depots that specify, design, install, upgrade, maintain and repair all types of lifts, escalators, loading systems and mobility equipment across many sectors, for many different kinds of businesses.