The McCarthy & Stone Foundation, an independent charity providing grants to non-profit organisations that enhance the lives of older people, has awarded £7,100 in funding to a local Stevenage charity. This donation will support individuals living with dementia and their carers, enabling the charity to continue its essential community work.
Dementia Grant Programme
The funding comes through the foundation’s annual Dementia Grant Programme, which offers grants to grassroots organisations delivering vital local dementia support services. The programme aims to strengthen community-based support and ensure smaller organisations can maintain crucial services for those affected by dementia.
The Red Shed
The Red Shed is a dementia-friendly therapeutic garden and community hub that supports people living with dementia and their carers through gardening and nature-based activities. It provides horticultural therapy sessions, carer support, and social groups to improve wellbeing, reduce isolation, and strengthen community participation among older adults.
Its weekly Garden Clubs offer accessible, structured sessions for all abilities, alongside a Carers Café providing respite and emotional support, and a monthly Friendship Group for isolated older residents. The charity also runs a Dementia Involvement Group in collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire to develop effective countywide dementia policies based on lived experience.
Impact of the Donation
This donation will directly sustain and strengthen the therapeutic Garden Clubs and wider dementia services, allowing over 60 older adults with dementia and their carers to continue accessing meaningful, tailored activities. The charity’s work has a broader community impact, as The Red Shed is located in one of Stevenage’s most deprived wards, where many older residents have limited access to services and social opportunities. These activities help build a stronger, more connected community, and the funding will help older people with dementia live more fulfilled, connected, and confident lives.
Quotes from Leaders
Derek Richards, chief executive officer at The Red Shed, commented: “We are incredibly grateful to receive this funding from the McCarthy & Stone Foundation. This grant will help us continue supporting people living with dementia and their carers through gardening activities, peer support, and social opportunities that improve wellbeing and reduce isolation. It will also enable more people to access our Garden Clubs, Carers Café, and community groups, providing meaningful connections, valuable support, and a welcoming environment where older adults can remain active, engaged, and connected to their local community.”
Andrew Burrett, trustee at the McCarthy & Stone Foundation, added: “Small charities and community groups play an essential role in supporting people living with dementia and the families and carers around them. We know unrestricted funding is particularly valuable, as it enables them to respond flexibly to the needs of the people they support. Through our Dementia Grant Programme, we are proud to help these organisations continue providing compassionate, life-changing services within their local communities.”
