A THEATRE company is bidding for funding of up to £25,000 to deliver a project aimed at improving the lives of dementia sufferers.

Cotton Shed Theatre Company is bidding for the cash to run its Silver Shed scheme, which will work with people with alzheimers and dementia.

The company, based in Haslingden, are a totally inclusive theatre company and regularly work with people who have special needs.

But chairman Keith Lofthouse and artistic director Cath Eddisford are keen to develop this programme to further help the community.

Mr Lofthouse said: “The bid for funding has gone in to work with people who have dementia.

“We will work with small groups out in the community and at old people’s homes or day centres and work around several subjects for the project, looking at music, storytelling and theatre.

“It’s called reminiscence therapy and it can help people with dementia.”

Mr Lofthouse, 54, also works as a physiotherapist for adults with learning disabilities, and has done for 30 years, and he is passionate about helping improve their quality of life through schemes like Cotton Shed.

He said: “There is quite a lot of work to suggest people with learning difficulties do develop dementia earlier than others. We want to help them through this project.

“We are passionate about it and we are determined to get it off the ground.

“While we believe strongly this project as a stand-alone piece will have a profound impact on participants’ quality of life, we will also be able to use this funding to develop partnerships and source further funds to make the project sustainable going forward .”

If the funding bid if successful a research phase will start in September with the first session being delivered in November.

The group needs votes to help secure funding, and you can give your support to Cotton Shed by visiting community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/1003/.

Cotton Shed will also be hosting their annual panto on June 19 and June 20. Tickets are £7 from cottonshed.co.uk or 01706 214309.