Rainbow Care Group: Innovative Dementia Support in Leeds

The Rainbow Care Group - North Leeds

A Different Approach to Dementia Support

Rainbow North Leeds is built on the belief that people living with dementia deserve more than traditional care. They believe every person should continue to feel valued, included, supported, and able to enjoy meaningful experiences, friendships, and happy moments regardless of their diagnosis.

It is owned and managed by Lauren, who joined the wider Rainbow Care Group network in February 2023, to bring this much-needed style of dementia support to Leeds. Lauren was passionate about creating local clubs across Leeds that truly focus on the individual and their families. Her drive to open Rainbow in Leeds came from both personal and professional experience. Like many families, her own family has been affected by dementia, giving her a real understanding of the emotional impact a diagnosis can have on everyone involved. She recognised there was a need for dementia support that felt warm, personal, flexible, and genuinely centred around the person rather than simply offering standard day care.

Today, Rainbow support around 40 families every week across a growing number of clubs in and around Alwoodley, Roundhay, Seacroft, and Horsforth, with a brand-new Kirkstall venue opening in July. Some members attend one day per week, others attend five days per week, and many come somewhere in between. One thing they are particularly honest about is that the closest club is not always the best fit. Every person living with dementia is different. Some people enjoy lively social settings, while others prefer quieter environments or more specialist activities. Rainbow staff take time to get to know every member and their family so they can help settle them into the club where they are most likely to feel comfortable, confident, and happy.

They offer both privately funded places and Adult Social Care funded places for individuals who have been assessed and approved for support through ASC.

Privately funded places are priced at under £15 per hour, helping make high-quality specialist dementia support more accessible for families. The team is always happy to guide families through the process and answer any questions around funding and accessing support.

Quality dementia day care can have a huge positive impact not only for the person attending but also for their family and carers.

For people living with dementia, regular attendance at day care can help reduce social isolation, improve confidence, encourage routine, and support emotional wellbeing. Staying socially connected and mentally stimulated is incredibly important following a dementia diagnosis, and many families notice positive changes in mood, confidence, communication, and overall wellbeing once their loved one begins attending regularly. Members benefit from friendship, conversation, purposeful activities, cognitive stimulation, laughter, gentle encouragement, and the reassurance of familiar faces and routines. Having something enjoyable to look forward to each week can make a real difference and gives back purpose to many members.

For carers and family members, day care also provides valuable respite and peace of mind. Caring for someone living with dementia can be emotionally and physically exhausting. Knowing their loved one is safe, happy, stimulated, and genuinely cared for allows families time to rest, recharge, attend appointments, or simply have a break without guilt or worry. At Rainbow, they support the whole family, not just the individual attending the clubs.

The clubs run from 10am until 4pm and are designed to provide enjoyable, stimulating, and supportive days in safe and welcoming environments. What makes Rainbow different from more traditional dementia services is their highly personalised approach. They do not believe in “one size fits all” care.

Before someone joins Rainbow, staff spend time gathering detailed life stories with families. They learn about a person’s background, work life, hobbies, interests, routines, favourite music, important memories, personality, and the things that make them who they are. This helps to shape days around the individual, so activities and conversations feel familiar, meaningful, and enjoyable.

Every day at Rainbow also includes Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST). CST is an evidence-based approach designed for people living with dementia that encourages memory, communication, thinking skills, confidence, and social interaction. This is built naturally into sessions through games, conversation, music, reminiscence, creative activities, and group interaction in a relaxed and enjoyable way. Combined with social interaction and meaningful activity, Cognitive Stimulation Therapy can help members maintain skills, confidence, communication, and independence for longer while improving overall wellbeing and reducing feelings of anxiety or frustration.

A typical Rainbow day is filled with laughter, singing, movement, conversation, companionship, and fun. They regularly arrange trips out into the community, meals out, café visits, and local outings so members can continue enjoying experiences outside of the home and remain connected to their community.

They also invite entertainers and performers into clubs, helping create joyful and memorable experiences for members. Movement and physical wellbeing are another important part of what Rainbow do. They provide gentle fitness and movement sessions suitable for all abilities, encouraging mobility, confidence, circulation, coordination, and overall wellbeing in a relaxed and inclusive way.

Members are welcomed each morning with breakfast snacks and refreshments on arrival, helping everyone settle in comfortably and start the day together. Every session also includes a freshly prepared two-course lunch, with mealtimes designed to be social, relaxed, and enjoyable.

Each venue has its own atmosphere and focus so Rainbow can offer different experiences to suit different personalities and interests.

The Alwoodley club offers a warm, welcoming, and social environment where members can enjoy stimulating activities, companionship, laughter, and support throughout the day. Sessions are tailored around the interests and personalities of those attending, helping members feel relaxed, included, and confident.

The Roundhay club provides a friendly and engaging space focused on meaningful activities, social connection, and personalised support. Members enjoy a variety of activities designed to encourage conversation, reminiscence, confidence, and enjoyment in a calm and supportive environment.

At Horsforth club members can enjoy structured yet flexible days filled with companionship, cognitive stimulation, activities, music, games, movement sessions, and opportunities to socialise and build friendships.

The Seacroft club is a specialist Music, Arts & Wellbeing Club for people who enjoy music, creativity, social connection, and wellbeing activities. The sessions include singing, music, arts, and crafts. Music can be incredibly powerful for people living with dementia and often helps spark memories, improve mood, reduce anxiety, and encourage communication. The club has a lovely welcoming atmosphere, and members often build strong friendships there.

Opening in July, the new Kirkstall venue will focus on outdoor wellbeing and nature-based activities. This club is ideal for members who enjoy being outdoors, gardening, planting, nature, and fresh air. Members will have full access to the community growing farm in Kirkstall where they can spend time planting, tending to the gardens, and taking part in outdoor activities. Spending time outdoors and in nature has been shown to support wellbeing, reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, encourage movement, and provide valuable sensory stimulation for people living with dementia. There will also be plenty of warm and comfortable indoor space available so members can relax and enjoy activities inside too.

One of the biggest things that makes Rainbow special is the team. They are proud of their excellent staffing ratios which allow them to spend proper time with members, build genuine relationships, and provide personalised support throughout the day. Having smaller groups and strong staffing levels means changes are noticed quickly, reassurance is offered when needed, members are supported through moments of anxiety or confusion, and everyone feels included and involved throughout the day. Staff are incredible support workers who go above and beyond for the families they work with. Highly qualified and knowledgeable, staff at Rainbow include a former social worker and qualified nurses – one of whom holds a master’s degree in dementia.

At Rainbow, they understand how important it is to find the right support, which is why they offer a free no-obligation taster day for anyone considering joining one of the clubs.

This gives families and their loved ones the opportunity to meet the team, experience the atmosphere, and see whether Rainbow feels like the right fit for them.

Rainbow is also pleased to offer readers their special “Free Month of Care,” giving families the opportunity to experience the benefits of Rainbow Dementia Day Care with additional support and reassurance while settling into the right routine for their loved one.

Whether someone is looking for one day per week or more regular attendance, the team will work closely with families to help find the right club, routine, and level of support.

To find out more, book a free taster day, or speak to the team, please contact:

northleeds@therainbowcaregroup.com

0113 521 1037