A HEXHAM charity which supports people living with dementia and their families is looking to the year ahead.

Chrysalis Club Tynedale, which has its base on Corbridge Road, provides an activities club for members and support groups for carers. Sessions run in both Hexham and Wylam.

It was born out of a successful art class specifically designed for people with dementia which was later pulled and has had a presence in Hexham for over 10 years.

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The charity is now reporting a bumper year, with plans to provide more opportunities for members in 2023, helping them to live and live well with the disease.

Club chair Rosie Robson-Tinsley said: "In 2023, Chrysalis aims to raise its profile so we can support more families living with dementia.

"We will work well with our trust funders and fundraisers to secure the sustainability of the charity, as well as having our usual portion of fun, of course."

Here, we look back at some of the charity's key milestones in 2022.

In February, Chrysalis held its first trip of the year - at Tyne Green - after Covid put paid to much of the group's activity.

The group later started a pilot offering all-day sessions once a month to provide extra respite for carers and provide more stimulation for members.

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A flurry of activity followed, including dementia-friendly screenings at the Forum Cinema, live music performances and Alpaca visits.

Members also enjoyed afternoon tea for the Queen's Jubilee and Cycling Without Age rides.

An intergenerational project with Chollerton C of E First School, which links young and old, was also started and will continue next year.

Generous donors, including the Screwfix Foundation, the Suez Communities Trust and Kirk Barclay, have all allowed the charity to thrive. It was also named Egger's charity of the year and was also the Tynedale Gift Fair's.

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Trustee Mike Pottage, whose wife was diagnosed with early onset dementia and now lives in a care home, cycled from Lands End to John O Groats with friends Steven Lathan and Michael Povey, raising £10,000 for the charity which was matched by The Geordie Chapter of the Harley Owners Group - the Geordie Hogs - on its Forget Me Not Tour 2022. 

A Christmas party and pantomime visit rounded off the group's activities as it bounced back from the impact of the coronavirus.

The club will run a carers' information course throughout spring to provide more information about dementia and support options. Places will be limited and must be booked in advance ahead of a February start.