Dartmouth Caring

07/11/2025

As part of our ongoing series about cancer screening and prevention, this month looks at bowel cancer and what steps we can all take to reduce our risk of succumbing to this particular cancer.

Screening helps early identification but having a healthy lifestyle reduces you risk of contracting this cancer in the first place.

Healthy lifestyle advice can be found here:

https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/about-bowel-cancer/risk-factors/reducing-your-risk/

This wesbite helps you identify the incidnece of bowel cancer by gender, age, etc.:

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/bowel-cancer/incidence

06/11/2025

Here are the dates for our next Baby Weigh & Play sessions for 2025! We are excited to be throwing a little Christmas Party for our families on Friday 19th December. Everyone is welcome, all of our sessions are drop-in, with no need to book.

06/11/2025

Our souper cooks, Jim and Sam, made some delicious croutons to go with this week's soup lunch!

If you're interested in attending Souper Thursday, please call 01803 835384 or email enquiries@dartmouthcaring.co.uk. We meet every Thursday at midday and we only ask for a suggested donation of £2.00 or an amount that is affordable.

03/11/2025

Tomorrow's Memory Café game will be a Day at the Races, and the contestants have arrived! These fast-moving mammals will sprint towards the finish line, but which one will be victorious?
If you or a loved one has memory problems and would like to attend our Memory Café on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 12:00, email enquiries@dartmouthcaring.co.uk or call 01803 835384.

28/10/2025

We are delighted to say we have space to welcome you to our Memory Café! We offer a friendly and understanding space for individuals with memory problems, and their loved ones, to connect, socialize, and share experiences.

We enjoy a variety of activities together every Tuesday - this week we enjoyed crafts and made beautiful headwear and accessories ready for our trip to the races next week! (Yes, that's right we are off to Ascot! 😄)

We would like to say a sincere thanks to a family who have donated a large assortment of crafts to Dartmouth Caring. These are being enjoyed by many of our groups. Thank you very much for your generosity.

If you would like to find out more about coming along to Memory Café, please email: enquiries@dartmouthcaring.co.uk or Tel: 01803 835384

Devon Memory Cafe Consortium

23/10/2025

It is wonderful to see our Knit and Natter group growing, with special friendships forming 🥰 We would like to say a big thank you and Happy Birthday to our lead volunteer Jane, who is doing a fabulous job looking after the group. Thanks also to our volunteer Michelle for being a brilliant help.

Do you know someone who would like to join us on a Wednesday at 2pm for some crafts, maybe to learn to knit with help and guidance, and would enjoy the company of this lovely group? Please share and spread the word as everyone is welcome. We provide free refreshments...and there is often cake!

22/10/2025

Sharing on behalf of Dartmouth United Charities who have two 1-bedroom almshouse flats available (Victoria Road, Dartmouth) from January 2026. Applications are invited from individuals/couples age 55+ looking for low cost almshouse accommodation.

Applicants must be residents of Dartmouth for the last two years or have strong local connections, be able to live independently, and satisfy the Charity’s criteria.

Please contact Dartmouth United Charities, by email: info@dartmouthunitedcharities.org.uk or Telephone: 01803 835006
www.dartmouthunitedcharities.org.uk

The application deadline is 27th October 2025, 12noon

Dartmouth United Charities -Home

20/10/2025

We would like to encourage everyone along to the Dartmouth Food Festival Community Lunch, to be held on Monday 27th October. A wonderful team of volunteers use all the food left over from the festival, to provide a buffet-style lunch for all the community, free of charge to all 😋

Please come along to The Flavel Arts Centre at 12:30. Everyone is welcome and it will be a lovely treat for families and children during the half-term. Thank you to everyone who makes this special community event possible! 🥰

14/10/2025

The next part of our series on cancer is focused on steps to reduce the risk of cancer in the first place.

Today we look at how to reduce the risk of bowel cancer.

Eating healthily helps your digestive system work well and can reduce your risk of bowel cancer.

Here are some tips to eating a healthy and balanced diet:

🍏 Eat at least five portions of vegetables and fruit every day
🍞 Choose wholegrain varieties of bread, rice and pasta
🫘 Eat more pulses, such as beans and lentils
🐟 Eat some fish, chicken, eggs and tofu, but limit red meat and avoid processed meat
🥛 Drink some milk and eat other dairy foods, but choose low sugar and fat options
🥑 Choose unsaturated oils and spreads instead of butter, and use in small amounts
❌ Avoid food and drinks high in fat or sugar, such as sweets, cakes, crisps and fizzy drinks

The NHS Eatwell Guide shows you how much of your diet should come from each food group. This includes everything you eat during the day, including snacks and drinks.

More detail can be found on the Bowel Cancer UK website.

Find out more about how improving your diet and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer.

07/10/2025

The next in our series about cancer screening and the benefits it brings. The information below sets out what will be offered to women from the age of 50.

If there is anything in this that makes you feel you have been left off the screening programme then speak to your doctor.

About 1 in 7 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. If it’s detected early, treatment is more successful and there’s a good chance of recovery.

Breast screening uses an X-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they’re too small to see or feel.

Breast screening is offered to women aged 50 to their 71st birthday in England. You’ll first be invited for screening within three years of your 50th birthday.

There is also currently a trial to examine the effectiveness of offering some women one extra screen between the ages of 47 and 49, and one between the ages of 71 and 73.

You may be eligible for breast screening before the age of 50 if you have a very high risk of developing breast cancer.

If you are 71 or over, you will stop receiving screening invitations. You can still have screening once you are 71 or over if you want to and can arrange an appointment by contacting your local screening unit.

If you’re worried about breast cancer symptoms, such as a lump or an area of thickened tissue in a breast, or you notice that your breasts look or feel different from what’s normal for you, do not wait to be offered screening. See a GP.

06/10/2025

We are starting our week with thanks to all our volunteers, and recognition of one of our newest Volunteers Laura, who joined us this Summer. Thanks to everyone who gives their time, whether every week, every month, or every year!