A MOTHER and daughter from Bury have been recognised for their ‘outstanding contribution’ to a local dementia group.

Gillian Tattersall, aged 54 is a carer for her mother, 80-year-old Dorothy Towler, who lives with dementia.

The pair were presented with the Kindness in Action award at the Making Space Awards, held to recognise the national health and social care charity's 35th anniversary.

Mother and daughter were presented with their award by Coronation Street’s Beverley Callard during a conference at the Haliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington, Cheshire.

Gillian and Dorothy attended the Piece of Mind memory café, a drop-in group run by Making Space’s Bury Dementia Service which meets in different locations across Bury once a month. They were nominated by the service’s former project worker, John Pearcy.

Mr Pearcy said: “Dorothy and Gillian attend almost every Piece of Mind café we run and are jointly a breath of fresh air to our service.

“Gillian is always available to talk to other carers about the role they are undertaking. She provides much needed support to her mother, yet is always willing to offer other carers her emotional and physical support. She can often be heard signposting other carers to either services she is aware of, and she’s always the first to greet new people and make sure they’re comfortable.

“Dorothy loves teaching seated dances to other group members, and it’s their amazing personalities and desire not to let the dementia reduce their ability to enjoy their lives that makes them so special.”

Gillian, who was thrilled to receive the award, says the Piece of Mind café is a safe and fun place to socialise with her mum.

“Mum absolutely loves the groups, and there’s so much going on in each one,” she said. “She particularly enjoys the singing groups as she was a choreographer when she was younger, so she loves creating seated dances for the group to do along with the songs.

“It’s a safe environment where we can go to socialise, with lots of fun and laughter. Some of the people who attend may not remember what they do in the groups, but it’s making memories for the rest of us.”