Solihull Memory Café celebrates its first birthday

It feels hard to believe that a whole year has passed since we opened the doors to our Solihull Memory Café for the very first time. Back then, eight people joined us for that first Thursday morning at Solihull Indoor Bowls Club. Twelve months later, more than 60 people are registered with the café, and every week we see familiar faces, new friendships and families finding a place where they can spend time with people who understand.

So, of course, our first birthday deserved a celebration.

Celebrating our Solihull Memory Café's first birthday

On Thursday 24 September, we brought members, families, volunteers and guests together to mark one year of the café. Solihull Pop Voices joined us for a special performance, filling the Bowls Club with music before everyone sat down for lunch together. It was a lovely way to celebrate, but also a chance to look back at just how much has happened in the space of a year.

When we started the café, the aim was quite simple: to create a relaxed, welcoming place for people living with dementia or memory difficulties and the people who support them. Somewhere you can have a cup of tea, take part in an activity if you fancy it, ask questions and spend time with others who understand some of what you're going through. A year on, that's still at the heart of everything we do.

From eight people to more than 60 registered members

Seeing the café grow from eight people at that first session to more than 60 registered members has been very special but the numbers only tell a small part of the story. What we're most proud of are the friendships that have formed, the familiar faces that greet one another each Thursday and the families who have found somewhere they don't need to explain themselves.

“When eight people walked through the doors for our first session, we really didn't know what the next 12 months would bring. To now have more than 60 people registered is something we're incredibly proud of, but what matters most is what has grown around the café.

People have made friendships here. Families have met others who understand what they're going through, and we've been able to bring local organisations into the café so people can ask questions and find support in a familiar setting.”

Karen Wilkinson, Community Liaison at Unique Senior Care

A year of community support in Solihull

We couldn't have built the café on our own and one of the best parts of the first year has been seeing just how many people and organisations across Solihull have wanted to get involved. We've welcomed the Alzheimer's Society, Admiral Nurses from Dementia UK and local social prescribers, giving families the chance to meet people who can offer information and specialist support in an informal setting. Local representatives, including the area's MP and Mayor, have also visited to meet members and learn more about the café.

There have been plenty of memorable moments along the way too. Our Dancing for Dementia events earlier this year brought members, staff, volunteers and the wider community together for music and dancing, while raising £1,000 to be shared equally between Alzheimer's Society and Dementia UK. 

We were also very grateful to The Arts Society Solihull, whose donation funded an art project delivered by Art at the Heart CIC. It gave members a chance to get creative, try something different and enjoy making things together.

And then there's our home at Solihull Indoor Bowls Club. What began as a venue partnership has become much more. Members can now stay on for lunch after the café, which means conversations don't have to stop when the session finishes and people can spend a little longer together.

This year, the work of our Solihull and Knowle & Dorridge Memory Cafés was also recognised when the cafés were shortlisted for the Solihull Community Builder Award 2026. It was a lovely acknowledgement of everyone who gives their time and support to the cafés each week.

Thank you to everyone who has supported the café

Reaching our first birthday feels like the right moment to say a very big thank you. Thank you to our volunteers who turn up week after week. To the organisations and professionals who share their knowledge. To the entertainers and activity providers who give people something different to look forward to. To Solihull Indoor Bowls Club for giving us such a welcoming home.

And, most importantly, thank you to our members and their families. You're the people who have turned a new Thursday morning group into a real community. We couldn't have reached this milestone without you.

“There are so many people who have given their time, shared their expertise, provided activities or simply helped make someone feel welcome when they walked through the door. We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been part of our first year. We're looking forward to seeing what the next one brings.”

Karen Wilkinson, Community Liaison at Unique Senior Care

Find your nearest Memory Café

If you or someone close to you is living with dementia or memory difficulties, you're very welcome to join us. There's no pressure to take part in every activity. You can come along, have a cuppa and see what you think.

All four cafés offer a relaxed place to meet other local families, enjoy activities and find information and support. Simply choose whichever location is most convenient for you.

If you're beginning to think your loved one may need some extra support at home too, you can also read about our hourly home care across Solihull, Coventry, Kenilworth and Warwickshire, or our live-in care for families across England.

Useful links

• Solihull Memory Café
• Knowle & Dorridge Memory Café
• Leamington Spa Memory Café
• Kenilworth Memory Café

Unique Senior Care is a CQC-regulated home care provider. We provide hourly home care across Solihull, Coventry, Kenilworth and Warwickshire, alongside live-in care for families across England.