Scout Leader Living with Dementia to Lead Walk After Reunion

When Scout Leader Michael walked through the door at White Ash Brook Care Home last week, his old friend Bill looked up and tears filled his eyes. They hadn't seen each other in years.

Bill and Michael led the scouts together for Withnell St. Paul's Group. Bill ran three cub packs and organised camps across the country. Before developing dementia, he documented it all in detailed memoirs, from his first scout camp in 1948 aged eleven, through decades of community service.

Bill on a walk.

Michael still leads the scouts today, but the pair lost touch years ago.

White Ash Brook Care Home had been planning a sponsored walk, with resident Bill leading current scouts from the care home in Oswaldtwistle to the Scout Hut at Mill Hill. As part of the planning, Wellbeing Lead Louise researched Bill's history and found references to Michael.

"I tracked down his number and called him," said Louise. "I explained we were organising this walk to create a meaningful experience for Bill and to raise money for the Scouts and Alzheimer's UK. Michael was keen to be involved."

Last week, Michael arrived with boxes of scrapbooks with newspaper cuttings of Bill planting trees and leading community projects. They sat together for two hours looking through the memories, reading Bill's own handwritten accounts of scout camps and young lives shaped.

"When Michael walked in, Bill just cried," said Louise. "But they were happy tears. Then they started talking about the route and planning the walk together like they've done a hundred times before."

The one-mile walk will take place on Saturday 28th March at 10:30am from White Ash Brook Care Home in Oswaldtwistle to the Scout Hut at Mill Hill. Bill will lead the group alongside Michael, with current scouts, residents and members of the community following. At the Scout Hut, there will be a chance to enjoy refreshments and learn about Bill's scouting history.

They're raising funds for Alzheimer's UK and the local scout group.

"Research shows that maintaining identity and meaningful roles is crucial for wellbeing when you're living with dementia," said Louise. "When people can continue being who they've always been, in Bill's case a scout leader, it supports their sense of self and gives them purpose. Those things directly impact quality of life and it's why we're fundraising for Alzheimer's UK."

After the reunion, Bill told the team how grateful he was they'd brought Michael back into his life and is delighted to lead with him again.

The community is invited to join the walk from White Ash Brook at 10:30am on Saturday 28th March or sponsor participants. Sponsorship forms are available at White Ash Brook Care Home.

White Ash Brook Care Home is part of the Each Other Care Home group, a family-run organisation, Nationally Recognised for their Wellbeing Programme. They’re now welcoming new residents for compassionate residential, dementia and respite care.

You can find out more about White Ash Brook on their Facebook page.