A FRESH wave of support is being made available to people living with Parkinson’s Disease and their families in East Lancashire.

Just this week a new ‘Parkinson’s Cafe’ has been launched in Clitheroe, promising an innovative approach to dealing with the neurological condition.

People with the disease and their families and friends will be offered help and assistance in a more relaxed setting, according to organisers Parkinson’s UK.

The focus of the cafe, which will be regularly hosted at the Mearley Fold Centre in Bright Street, will be more on mutual support, in an informal setting.

Rebecca Ward-Dooley, the charity’s area development manager, said: “This is a completely different style of support for people affected by Parkinson’s in the area.

“The cafe will give locals the opportunity to meet and help support one another in a friendly and relaxed environment, while also allowing informal access to a Parkinson’s nurse.

“The meetings will have no committee, no agenda and no subscriptions. It will be somewhere people can share experiences and positive ways of trying to take control of the condition – a mutual support group, where the chat doesn’t necessarily have to be about Parkinson’s at all.”

The development is one of a number of forward-thinking approaches which has seen medics in East Lancashire rethink how they deal with both dementia and Parkinson’s, which can affect an estimated one in 500 in the UK.

Pendle Dementia Action Alliance has been making great strides to advance advice-sharing techniques for a range of related dementias in Nelson, Colne, West Craven and surrounding villages.

Not only has the fledgling alliance been working closely with frontline clinicians but has forged bonds with the Alzheimer’s Society, Blackburn Diocese and Pendle Council.

Their first public awareness day was held in Nelson and a follow-up seminar proved popular in Colne.

Patsy Pope, a dementia specialist who offers expert training and has worked with local authorities including Ribble Valley, has been drafted in as a guest speaker on both occasions.

The alliance is one of several in East Lancashire which provide ongoing support for dementia – Blackburn with Darwen’s version boasts more than 20 partners.

Burnley has also recently created its own similar partnership and is committed to working towards gaining recognition as a ‘dementia-friendly town’ and another similar outfit regularly meet in Hyndburn also.

Currently there is no cure for Parkinson’s, whose main symptoms include tremors, slowness of movement and rigidity. Parkinson’s UK bosses said there are other ‘hidden’ symptoms and it can affect every aspect of a person’s life, as well as their loved ones.

In Burnley, a support group meets on the last Wednesday of each month, at the Barden Lane campus, from 7pm. The Clitheroe cafe will be assembling on the second to last Wednesday of every month, from 11am to 1pm. For more details call 0300 123 3672.