Exeter COSY Routes project in the spotlight for Dementia Action Week
The hills, valleys, and viewpoints around Exeter get a national television spotlight this month on the BBC’s Songs of Praise, in a programme coming from the city on Sunday 16th May.
Hosted by presenter Aled Jones, one of several projects chosen for filming was Exeter COSY Routes, launched last year by the Exeter Dementia Action Alliance.
The COSY project is a mapped 26.2-mile marathon distance route around the city, comprising eight shorter circular routes of between four and seven miles.
It was created by keen runner and walker Jo Earlam, a board member of the alliance, and with experience of dementia through three generations of family. Both her late grandmothers and father Bernard had dementia in later life, and now her husband John is living with the disease.
One of the interviewees for the filming which took place on Topsham Quay, Jo said: “To have such a prestigious platform as Songs of Praise, to talk about dementia, its impact on people who live with the condition, and those who love them and care for them, was a huge honour.
"Dementia affects so many people’s lives, I welcome it being more widely covered by the media. It was unusual talking about faith, which for me is quite personal, but a wonderful opportunity to share what inspires me.”
Gina Awad, Founder and lead of EDAA and Jo connected several years ago through their shared passion for making a difference in the lives of people with dementia and their families as well raising awareness and inspiring action.
In September Gina and Jo got together to reflect on ideas for a new initiative that could be accessible for everyone as well as people with dementia and their families and would involve the outdoors and opportunity to enjoy nature. Shortly after Exeter COSY Routes was born.
Varying from four to seven miles, these routes all have their own character, points of interest, history and as part of the unfolding and growing picture of the city. Each route has a dementia accessible suggestion, which may be a short stroll, picnic stop, or viewpoint.
Due to the pandemic the initiative had to be delayed but it has worked out for the better enabling the alliance to share the routes just in time for Dementia Action Week on Monday 17th May with restrictions easing, and the warmer weather coming.
An added bonus was the alliance receiving a recent approach by Songs of Praise who were keen to share Jo’s inspiration behind COSY routes. You can see Jo, her husband John and Adrian and Jill living with dementia feature on the programme.
EDAA have a number of wonderful local sponsors for the individual routes as well as the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation who are the lead sponsor supporting the whole route.
“Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation are delighted to support the Exeter COSY Routes initiative. It is important for all of us to engage with nature and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors when possible. This simple pleasure takes on an even greater importance for those with dementia and their families. We hope the COSY Routes provide enjoyment for many,” said Sir Malcolm Walker Founder and Executive Chairman, Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation Chairman.
The Exeter Chiefs Foundation are very supportive of the project for the local community and have funded the signposting leaflet which is due out in a couple of months
Tony Husband, Cartoonist for Private Eye has collaborated with the alliance again and created a number of unique cartoons to accompany a significant point of interest on each of the eight routes.
Gina, lead of the alliance said: “We have high hopes with our vision for the COSY Routes and invite people to share their pictures, stories or reflections being out in nature and enjoying our wonderful city and green space. Whilst being outside is vital for us all for people with dementia it’s even more crucial.
"We are really looking forward to engaging with our fabulous route sponsors who we know will be claiming their respective routes and making them their own.
"From us all at the alliance we thank you wholeheartedly for believing in Exeter COSY Routes. A community collaborative initiative is exactly what we want to achieve, bringing people together and providing something inclusive and special for people with dementia and their families.”
Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation are proudly EDAA’s overall sponsor.
Route sponsors in order are:
Haines Watts
Southern Healthcare
Stonehaven care group
Green Tree Court
Cumberland Grange care home (due to open its doors officially at the end of August)
Rodney Spiller Wealth Management
You can see the Exeter Dementia Action Alliance Exeter COSY Routes feature on Songs of Praise at 1.15pm on Sunday 16th May or catch up on BBC iPlayer at your leisure.
Take a look at Exeter COSY Routes video story here https://youtu.be/eNLfjTUT3hI
For more information and full route details visit https://exetercosyroutes.wordpress.com/about/
You can find out more about EDAA at www.exeterdementia.org.uk
