STAFF and members of the Old Silk Works dementia day club in Warminster are celebrating it having won a national award for its interior design.

The club, opened last year by Wiltshire charity Alzheimer’s Support, won the Best Interior Dementia Design category at the National Dementia Care Awards.

Judges praised its spacious and innovative interior, loved the open-plan kitchen which allows club members to feel included, and praised the innovative entrance bridge.

The award was collected by the Trowbridge charity’s head of communications and engagement Stephany Bardzil, who said: “It is fantastic that this wonderful day club has been recognised nationally.

"Old Silk Works is a work of many hands and when we converted the building we had incredible support from the community and volunteers who gave their time and expertise to make it happen.

“It really is a very special space and everyone who comes to the club, as a member or visitor, feels that as soon as they walk in.”

The club, in Beech Avenue, was converted from a Victorian silk mill in a nine-month project and opened in May 2018.

Today, it is used by 13 club members every Tuesday to Friday and houses a dementia art group and memory café on some Mondays.

Alzheimer’s Support head of day care Grant Newton said: “We have been open for 18 months now and it is great to see our ideas for the space, including the indoor garden and open plan kitchen, work so well in practice.

"The club interior is welcoming and well balanced and reflects the life and times of members. We were the only day club to be shortlisted along with several major care home groups, so that makes the win even more special.”

Founded in 1990, the charity provides flexible services for people with all types of dementia and their family carers, including support at home, day care, memory cafes, and art, exercise and singing groups.

Mr Newton added: "It was a long-cherished dream of ours to bring Day Care to Warminster and the club was full to capacity after just three months.

"Families have repeatedly told us about the positive changes in their relative’s mood and abilities and the interior of the club plays a big part in that."

To find out more about Old Silk Works go to www.alzheimerswiltshire.org.uk