A HEXHAM-BASED club for people with dementia and memory problems has been able to recruit its first paid member of staff.

Chrysalis at Tynedale offers regular activity sessions at the town’s Torch Centre, offering experiences in gardening, pottery, music, singing, art, archery, golf and cookery to provide stimulation, social interaction and give family members the chance to take a break.

Corbridge’s Phil Smith has recently been appointed part-time operational co-ordinator for the charity, which was established in 2009.

“We secured the funding by way of a three-year grant from the Tudor Trust,” explained board member Helen Ord.

“We were thrilled to be awarded around £45,000 and the role is really to set up and ensure the smooth running of our sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays.”

The charity currently supports around 20 local people and their families and relies on a dedicated team of volunteers, as well as a six-strong board of people with experience in the field.

“Updating policies and procedures, supporting our links with the Memory Cafe in Corbridge and providing additional support for families and loved ones, which continues even after someone dies, is also part of the role,” said Helen.

“We had about 20 applicants interested in the role and were thrilled to appoint Phil.”

The 33-year-old, who is originally from Yorkshire, has a background of working with the British Red Cross, where he was service co-ordinator for a support programme which provided help for unpaid carers in Newcastle.

Speaking of his ambitions for Chrysalis, Phil said: “It would be great to see the organisation grow and become known within structures of health and social care within Tynedale so that more people who need it can be referred.

“Part of what attracted me to Chrysalis was that it is a grassroots organisation run for local people by local people, and I really believe in that.”