Having received a generous £750 donation from the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews’ Town Fund, Bield’s Fife Flexicare service decided to benefit the local community by using the funds to support a dementia drop-in group in Leuchars.

Bield’s Fife Flexicare offers support to those with dementia to help ensure they continue doing the things they love, such as help when making tea or visiting a friend.

The new service, which is set to open this April, is believed to be the first of its kind as it looks to act as a drop-in centre for those with dementia to seek advice and support, as well providing the opportunity to meet others with the condition.

Hoping to run the service for six months from April to September, the drop in centre will be located at the Coach House in Leuchars once a week from 1pm-4pm.

Patsy Smith, project manager for Bield’s Fife Flexicare and the person responsible for setting up the new service, said: “We are delighted to have come up with this idea of opening up a drop in centre for people with dementia.

“Being diagnosed with dementia is something that can be quite frightening and isolating, especially at first, so we really wanted to create a service that provides as much support as possible for anyone who needs it.

“Our doors will be open to anyone and we intend to have leaflets on hand to provide as much information as possible.

“Should someone be looking to speak directly with someone regarding their experience then of course, we can arrange for this to happen too.

“Bield very much operates a ‘free to be’ ethos whereby we encourage those who use our services to live as independently as possible but we are also incredibly keen to make sure that we are there 100% for those who may need need help, guidance or support.”

Bield’s Flexicare service has received funding from the R&A Town Fund before as the service is one which looks to benefit the local people in the Fife area.

A previous £1,000 donation from the Fund saw those who use the Flexicare service go on trips to the likes of the Blackwatch Museum in Balhousie Castle, Perth.