Overwhelming success of Aberdeen’s dementia friendly disco

Overwhelming success of Aberdeen’s dementia friendly disco

An overwhelming number of dancing feet have ensured an Aberdeen initiative, which launched as a one-off event last year, has become a permanent monthly fixture.

The Foundry Bar opens exclusively on the third Friday of every month to host a relaxed dementia friendly disco open to all ages.

Boogie in the Bar is supported by the Active Aberdeen Partnership alongside Sport Aberdeen, Aberdeen FC Community Trust, Aberdeen Health and Social Care Partnership and Alzheimer Scotland. Lunch is donated by Marks & Spencer Bank with The Foundry Bar providing tea, coffee and soup at the monthly event.

Boogie in the Bar welcomed Maureen Watt MSP, Minister for Mental Health, who attend the relaxed disco to witness the trailblazing initiative first hand.

The event, which launched as a one-off in March 2017, has seen numbers double and now runs monthly, regularly attracting over 80 participants of all ages and abilities.

Combats loneliness and social isolation

The initiative was initially thought up by local resident Anne Duncan after a chat with a member of staff from Sport Aberdeen where she said what she really misses is a “proper bop with her husband Bill”, who is living with dementia.

“This is such a great project and helps so many people and enhances their lives.
“It combats loneliness and social isolation and gets people together to have a great time.
“The growing popularity of Boogie in the Bar shows the significant impact you can have when you give people the opportunity to come together and enjoy themselves.” Commenting, Maureen Watt MSP, Minister for Mental Health

Commenting, Sport Aberdeen’s Director for Sport and Active Lifestyles, Jo Bell, said:

“To see Boogie in the Bar go from strength to strength in such a short amount of time terrifically encouraging and I hope that we can inspire even more communities to get their dancing shoes on.

“The initiative has proven hugely successful with the sheer volume of people attending and the clear demand for this to become a permanent fixture. The fact this has been replicated is brilliant and shows what can be achieved in our communities through partnership working.”