POLICE cadets in Torfaen are fundraising to help revamp the Rowan Ward day room at County Hospital, Griffithstown.

The cadets are working in partnership with the Ffrind i Mi service provided by Aneurin Bevan Health Board to create a vibrant and stimulating environment for people living with dementia.

CSO Pauline Lohfink, who runs the Torfaen branch of the cadets, said: “It’s a project that I inherited. It had been talked about before, but the idea had not got off the ground.

“The cadets came up with some ideas which I took to the hospital.

“All the ideas have come from the cadets themselves.

“Rabarts Decorating Suppliers have given us the paint to use free of charge. They were absolutely brilliant. We are really thankful for this as the paint was one of our major expenses.”

All the cadets have trained as dementia friends, and they are looking to continue to build their relationship with the patients at the Rowan Ward beyond this current project.

CSO Lohfink said: “We are looking to build a memory garden for the patients once we have finished work in the day room.

“After that we will also be making regular visits to the ward.

“The cadets were very clear that they didn’t want to just finish revamping the day room and stop there. They wanted to establish a relationship with the patients.”

The cadets are looking for donations of items that can be used to decorate the room, or that would be of use to the residents when the project is completed.

These items include paint brushes or rollers, cover sheets, board games, films and books.

PC Craig Ellis, Neighbourhood Policing Team ward manager for Pontypool, said that the Rowan Project is a fantastic example of the relationship that the cadets can build with the community.

He said: “Initially Ffrind I mi contacted us. After meeting with them, we have looked to link each of our cadet units with a hospital in their ward.

“In Torfaen, they have just steamed ahead and gone that step further. The ideas have all come from the cadets.

“We also set up a management group of the cadets to get fresh ideas and a fresh perspective from them. They came up with ideas such as taking the residents for days out at Newport Wetlands.

“It’s beneficial for the cadets as well as the patients. It puts them in a position of responsibility, and enables them to develop leadership skills and work as part of a team.”

If you would like to make a donation, contact the cadets on ‘The Rowan Project’ on Facebook or @ProjectRowan on Twitter.