Tapestry is running a Pub Pod Appeal to help raise money towards creating a dementia friendly Pub at Tapestry’s Community Hub, HOPWA House in Hornchurch.

What is a Pub Pod?

The 'Pub Pod' will look and feel like a real pub, but will be set up to make it safe and enjoyable for people living with dementia and disability.   We will create the pod so that it will feel like you are stepping back in time, which means the pod will be able to be used as a reminiscence, meeting and eating space.

The pod will have a Juke Box with 50's, 60's and 70's music playing; Games, such as domino’s and a dart board; Retro signage; and a space for live entertainment.

Why do we need a Pub Pod?

People affected by dementia or disability often have to give up the things they love doing due to inaccessible and unsupportive environments and this can lead to loneliness, isolation and a deterioration in health and wellbeing.

The pod will create a safe environment where people can reminisce and interact socially with their peers, carers and others from the community to reduce loneliness.  We hope to create an area that will allow staff and carers to evoke memories of the past in order to stimulate conversation. 

Through remembering the past can we can bring a new awareness to the present. Memories can be explored in many creative ways that place value on a person’s unique life experience. Triggers are often used to evoke a memory and the best triggers are those that stimulate our five senses: taste (pork scratching’s or scampi bites in the pub), smell (the aroma of tobacco scented oils), touch (an old juke box to press buttons to select music), sound (music) and sight (old fashioned signage).  

Reminiscence themes and activities can provide opportunities for social interaction around shared experiences and creative memory-making brings memories back to life and this what we hope to achieve with this project.

Studies have shown that Reminiscence as a therapy can:

• Improve communication
• Improve well being
• Improve self-care
• Improve mood
• Provide an enjoyable social activity
• Improve intellectual functioning (in some cases)

The pod will also be open to the community and will be a fantastic meeting/eating space and will be available to hire for special events.

Find out how you can get involved today by visiting our Pub Pod Appeal page.