Summerbee and Williams were able to enjoy a Q&A session with participants, discussing their careers and watching historic match highlights.
CITC’s new ‘Reminicity’ programme aims to engage and support people living within Manchester who suffer from mild to moderate forms of dementia.
Commenting on the visit, City legend and Club ambassador Summerbee said: “It’s nice to meet people who have been supporters of this football club for many years.”
Alex Williams, distinguished former City goalkeeper and CITC Ambassador added: “Anything we can do as a football club and as a community to address dementia would be great.
“This project is something that is new, it is something that is needed in the local community, and it is great to interact with local residents.”
Reminiscity has been launched to create a dementia safe environment for participants to enjoy social and physical activity, through the conduit of football and Manchester City, to promote active and engaged lifestyles in the face of the challenge’s dementia can bring.
Six weeks of sessions take place in and around the Etihad Stadium and Campus.
Activities will include social elements, where participants can relive classic Manchester City matches and group discussions on Manchester City history, as well as physical activity such as stadium walks and arts and crafts.
The programme also makes full use of the Etihad Stadium Sensory Room, with participants able to experience the benefits of innovative sensory technology built into the space.
It is also planned to include a legacy benefit to Reminicity, with CITC coaches referring Dementia Walking Football to participants.
One Reminicity participant, was thrilled to spend time with Summerbee and Williams.
Commenting on the visit and wider programme initiative, he said:
“It helps retrieve your memory and helps you remember what you have lost.”
The visit was arranged as part of World Alzheimer’s Month, with the above video released on World Alzheimer’s Day.
World Alzheimer’s Month is a global opportunity to raise awareness around, educate, encourage support of and demystify dementia.
It is an opportunity for people and organisations to demonstrate how we can overcome these issues and help people live well with dementia.
Globally, dementia is one of the biggest challenges we face, with nearly 50 million people living with dementia worldwide.
To tackle this global dementia challenge, we need to work together, and to collaborate and share best practice with one another.
Reminiscity will form a key new offering, as part of CITC’s wider One City Disability outreach programme, using football to improve and enrich lives and communities in Manchester.
One City Disability provides opportunity for participants to take part in free football and sporting provision relevant to their specific disability, ensuring that participants across Greater Manchester have access to disability specific provision and education.
