A GROUP which brings people with dementia and mental health problems together through a love of sport has been reinstated in Okehampton.

Thursday saw the first session of the social group Sporting Memories since the pandemic began.

It was hosted by Okehampton Community and Recreation Association (OCRA) whose general manager Ian Blythe said: ’We welcome all sports fans that may have experienced or are experiencing isolation, loneliness or long term health conditions. Come along to the group and share your love of sport!’

The group will offer members the opportunity to socialise, reminisce, and get involved in mental and physical exercise.

Activities will include quizzes, conversation and games such as ’spot the ball.’ The Sporting Memories paper, the Sporting Pink, will also be available for members to peruse as will tea and coffee.

Each session will cover different topics from the past and present. They take place from 10.30am to 12 noon every Thursday in the pavilion lounge at the Pavilion in the Park.

The activity changes most weeks with previous highlights being fencing, balloon volleyball, indoor curling and chair based fitness.

The Sporting Memories group is delivered by OCRA in partnership with Exeter City Community Trust, the partner charity of Exeter City Football Club and the Sporting Memories Charity.

The sessions are free to attend and take place upstairs at OCRA’s Pavilion in the Park and are part funded by Okehampton United Charities' core funding of OCRA.

Okehampton’s group is just one of approximately 120 Sporting Memories clubs across the UK, coordinated by the Sporting Memories Foundation, which aims to provide support for older adults with dementia, depression or loneliness by encouraging club attendees to share sports memories and get involved in some physical activity.

The community interest company was originally established to support older men suffering with dementia and mental illness as they are statistically less likely to discuss their problems.

However, Sporting Memories clubs are now open to both men and women over the age of 50.

OCRA is an Okehampton-based community interest group that aims to provide sporting and recreational activities to the residents of Okehampton and the surrounding area.

The charity runs over a thousand sports sessions a year and has coordinated many developments in the area, including skateparks, a new all-weather pitch, play area and developments to the Parklands Leisure Centre.

Most recently, OCRA has set up a Friday night youth group for teenagers in order to tackle anti-social behaviour.

OCRA has also been working with new support group, the Yes Tor Project, to help Okehampton’s disadvantaged children and young people try out new activities and obtain necessary training that their families may be unable to fund otherwise.

Though most funding is intended for those 18 and under, the support group said it will consider applications from people up to the age of 25.

For more information about Sporting Memories, visit www.sportingmemoriesnetwork.com