After a huge fundraising push, the charity Dementia Friendly Purbeck has announced it’s raised enough money to recruit a second Admiral nurse – a registered nurse specialising in dementia.
An advert has now been placed for the additional Admiral nurse to work across Purbeck, to support those living with dementia and their families, after the charity quickly raised an impressive £80,000.
Fundraising for a second Admiral nurse has hit £90,000 in a year, although there’s still more money to raise to reach the target of £120,000
First Purbeck Admiral nurse appointed 2017
Dementia Friendly Purbeck needs to raise about £120,000 to fully fund the role but there’s confidence that will now be achieved, with the total now standing at £90,000 since the appeal launched in April 2024.
Rachel Murray, Purbeck’s first Admiral nurse was appointed in 2017 following a campaign by Jean Gibbs, whose husband and sister were both living with dementia with little or no help available in the community.
On the last Friday of the month, the Dementia Friendly Purbeck team run a stall at the Swanage market in Main Beach car park to offer information and receive donations. Left to right: George Pothecary, Sue Plowman and Sarah Randell
Joy Sparks with lots of information and a forget-me-not badge, the symbol of Dementia Friendly Purbeck
“Extremely grateful for all the donations”
Secretary of Purbeck Friendly Purbeck George Pothecary said:
“It was really good news when the healthcare trust and Dementia UK agreed to start the recruitment process for a second Admiral nurse for Purbeck.
“We are the only place in England to have an Admiral nurse in the community and now we are going to have two! There are Admiral nurses in care homes and Royal British Legion settings but none in similar communities like Purbeck.
“But the demand is there. That’s why we needed to recruit a second nurse to share the workload with Rachel and to build in some resilience in the role, to allow for time off.
“It’s a vital job supporting people living with dementia and those caring for them. The Admiral nurse can offer practical help and advice, especially when people are first diagnosed and casting around for support.
“Dementia is now the leading cause of death in the country, so there needs to be help, similar to those provided so effectively by cancer organisations.
“We were very impressed by the community response in Purbeck when we fundraised for an Admiral nurse in 2017, so we were fairly confident we could do it again for a second time. And the community has not disappointed us!
“We are extremely grateful for all the donations from organisations, generous individuals, and from legacies, so thank you.”
Rachel Murray, Purbeck’s first Admiral nurse at the fundraising launch for a second Admiral nurse in April 2024
Mike Bonfield, chair of Dementia Friendly Purbeck (left) receives a cheque in March 2025 from Tina Foster (right) who was the Swanage town mayor at the time and had nominated Dementia Friendly Purbeck as her charity for the year
Community events
Alongside fundraising for a second Admiral nurse, Dementia Friendly Purbeck provides non-clinical support to meet the needs of those living with dementia and their carers, like helping to pay for specialist equipment.
There’s also a programme of Dementia Friendly Purbeck events
- Community cafe – For those with dementia and their carers from 10 am to 12 noon in The Showbar at The Mowlem in Swanage on the first and third Tuesday of each month
- Singing for Pleasure community choir – For all abilities from 2 pm to 3.15 pm on Thursday afternoons at the Emmanuel Baptist Church on Victoria Avenue in Swanage
- Purbeck Forget-me-not Group – A dementia support group organised by Age UK and supported by Dementia Friendly Purbeck. 10.30 am to 12 noon at the Wareham and Swanage rugby club, Bestwall Road, Wareham
Dementia Friendly Purbeck provides practical support and information
“Get the right support”
Not least, Dementia Friendly Purbeck exists to raise awareness of dementia.
George Pothecary added:
“Sometimes there is a reluctance to go to the doctor if there is something wrong and a resistance to getting a diagnosis for dementia, but it can be something else.
“We would always encourage people to go and seek a diagnosis and if it is dementia, then you know what the problem is and you can get the right support.”
Further information
- Donate online towards a second Admiral nurse
- More about Dementia Friendly Purbeck and its work
