ON Thursday, 24 September, a south Essex dementia charity celebrates three decades of helping people live well after diagnosis

Peaceful Place, the Basildon-based charity supporting people living with dementia and their families, is celebrating its 30th anniversary and calling on 30 local businesses to each pledge £1,000 a year for three years to help protect the charity's future.

For three decades, Peaceful Place has worked to show that a diagnosis of dementia does not mean that life, friendship, activity and purpose have to stop.

On Thursday members will be collected from their homes across Basildon, Southend, Thurrock and surrounding areas, brought to Peaceful Place for a cooked breakfast and lunch, and supported to take part in a huge range of activities.

These include walking football, swimming, golf, bowling, music therapy, choir, ballroom dancing, yoga, boccia, gym sessions, art, allotment activities, boxercise and the Friday Mystery Tour.

At the heart of the charity is a simple message: "Living our best lives."

Coming together to make the best of living.

Peaceful Place CEO Charlotte Curran said: "Thirty years is an incredible milestone for Peaceful Place, but for us this anniversary is not only about looking back. It is also about making sure Peaceful Place is here for the people and families who will need us in the future.

"Dementia can take away many things, but it should never take away someone's right to friendship, laughter, activity, achievement and a sense of belonging.

"When you walk into Peaceful Place, you don't see people sitting around because they have dementia. You see people playing football, swimming, singing in a choir, dancing, bowling, creating art, going to the gym and supporting one another.

"That is what living well with dementia can look like."

Peaceful Place also provides vital support to family carers.

Charlotte added: "Behind every person we support there is often a husband, wife, partner, son or daughter whose life has also been changed by dementia.

"Knowing that the person they love is safe, active, engaged and enjoying their day can make an enormous difference to the whole family."

Transport is the key to accessing the service and transport plays a central role in making Peaceful Place possible.

The charity's drivers begin early in the morning, travelling across South Essex to collect members from their homes before supporting external activities throughout the day and returning members safely home.

"For many of our members, without our transport they simply would not be able to access these opportunities," Charlotte said.

"Our drivers don't just drive a bus. They know our members, they support them and they are an essential part of the Peaceful Place team."

30 businesses for 30 years

As part of the anniversary celebrations, Peaceful Place is inviting 30 businesses to pledge £1,000 a year for three years.

The campaign is designed to create a network of local businesses standing behind the charity and helping it plan confidently for the future.

Stuart Philpot was the first business supporter to step forward and commit to the campaign.

Charlotte said: "Stuart was the first to say yes, and that meant a great deal to us. Sometimes it just takes one person or one business to lead the way, and we hope his commitment will encourage others to follow."

But it was the second pledge that provided one of the most moving moments of the campaign.

Two family carers whose loved ones are supported by Peaceful Place came forward together and pledged to jointly contribute £1,000 a year for the full three years.

Charlotte said: "That was incredibly touching. "These are family carers who understand first-hand what Peaceful Place means, not only to the person living with dementia, but to the whole family.

"For two carers to come together and say, 'We want to help make sure this service is still here for other families,' was very emotional for us.

"They are not businesses. They are families who have experienced the difference Peaceful Place can make, and they wanted to give something back.

"I don't think there could be a stronger endorsement of the value of the service."

Peaceful Place is now hoping local businesses will follow the example set by both its first corporate supporter and its own families.

Charlotte added: "We are not asking one company to solve everything.

"We are asking 30 businesses to stand alongside us and say: we want Peaceful Place to continue supporting people living with dementia and their families.

"If 30 businesses each commit £1,000 a year for three years, together they can make a significant and lasting difference."

The charity will bring together supporters, local businesses and community partners at its 30th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday 24 September, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Any local business interested in hearing more about the '30 businesses for 30 years' campaign is warmly invited to join Peaceful Place on Thursday evening. Businesses unable to attend but interested in supporting the campaign are also encouraged to contact the charity directly.

Charlotte said: "This anniversary gives us an opportunity not only to celebrate what Peaceful Place has achieved over 30 years, but to start building the foundations for the next 30.

"And when the people who have relied on your service are among the first to step forward and help protect its future, that tells you just how much Peaceful Place means to families."

Peaceful Place's anniversary year has already included a major Family Fun Day bringing together members, families, staff, volunteers and community partners.

The charity hopes its 30th anniversary will also challenge assumptions about dementia and raise greater awareness of what is still possible after a diagnosis.