West Sussex art installation remembers victims of Covid-19
and live on Freeview channel 276
Local charity Dementia Support has been working in partnership with West Sussex County Council and The Selsey Community Forum to purchase two hundred steel forget-me-nots from Chi-Africa.
The aim is to help provide a space for communities to come together to share their grief in a meaningful way after the lockdowns prevented them from doing so at the time, with many not getting the chance to say goodbye.
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Hide AdMartha Pusey, head of Sage House, said: “The idea for the reflections project came about with two carers in mind that we supported during the pandemic who lost loved ones living with dementia. The project is very much dedicated to their memories.
"One carer lost his wife early in the pandemic and at the time funerals were no more than six people — he said that when the time was right, we would celebrate her life. The second carer’s mum passed in a care home, and she was not allowed into the home to be with her mum.
"It is always a privilege to attend the funerals of people in our care who have passed away. We hope this permanent memorial eases some of the grief and provides somewhere for loved ones to come and reflect and know that their loved ones are remembered.”
Chi-Africa is a local business that produces garden sculptures from recycled materials in partnerships with craftsmen in Zimbabwe.
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Hide AdAlongside the forget-me-nots, there will be an opportunity for people to share their personal reflections in a jar. These will then be turned into five Books of Remembrance after the event and will be held in local libraries.
The launch event took place on Friday (April 29) at Dementia Support’s hub, Sage House, in Tangmere.
Chichester MP Gillian Keegan will be attending Sage House to officially unveil the reflections sculpture.
The installation will then be travelling around the county, between May 9 and 13.
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Hide AdIt will be visiting Crawley, Horsham, Burgess Hill, Worthing, and ending the week at Chichester Festival Theatre on the May 13 . The forget-me-knots will then be distributed to the communities for permanent installation.
Over 21,000 people passed away in West Sussex during the pandemic, for Sage House the doors were closed, meaning many family carers were caring 24/7 for their loved ones without face-to-face support.
In total 42 of their customers with dementia or their carers passed away. The experiences for Selsey Community Forum mirrored what Dementia Support experienced, but out of the sadness, the reflections project developed.
To find out more information about the event, please call Dementia Support’s hub, Sage House on 01243 958460 or email them at [email protected]
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Hide AdIf you would like more information about any of the services offered at Sage House, please call 01243 888691 or visit www.dementiasupport.org.uk