In November 1989, David Moss was approach by Dr. Don Williams to become the Secretary and Treasurer of the ailing West Glamorgan Alzheimer's Disease Society. At the time the West Glamorgan Society had no premises, held 3 poorly-attended social evenings a year and had just £1000 in the bank.

The first meeting between David Moss and the West Glamorgan Alzheimer's Disease Society took place in December 1989. David took notes on the current situation and proposed new aims for the Society: to hold Carers' Meetings, Social Evenings and to set up a Sitting Service to give relief to carers of patients with Alzheimer's. These aims were to become the core services of the Branch and all are still in operation today. It was decided to take a full year to prepare these services, and no advertising was done in this first year.

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In January 1990, the name of the Branch was officially changed to "Alzheimer's Disease Society, Swansea and Lliw Valley Branch"

David Moss visited the Neath Branch of the Alzheimer's Disease Society for information and advice on setting up our Branch. He was awarded £500 from the UK Alzheimer's Disease Society to help in the setting up of the Branch. Posters were printed to spread the word and two more volunteers joined the Branch - Eric Dummer as Treasurer, and Chris Moss as minutes' secretary. Volunteers continued to be recruited by word-of-mouth.

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The Branch Committee was formed with 16 members, all volunteers.

Mr.Jim Butcher, then the Chief Nursing Officer of the Swansea Health Authority managed to find the Branch some premises to work from. This was a bungalow called "The Lodge" in the grounds of Garngoch Hospital. It had once been a doctor's residence, but had been empty for years and was now filthy and in a state of disrepair.

Somehow, money was "found" to renovate The Lodge. Workers from the Probation Service artexed, painted, rewired and laid new carpet. Donated money allowed the premises to be furnished.

Renovating the Lodge, Summer 1990

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The Branch acquired and trained sitters ready to launch the sitting service. Volunteers continued to be recruited. The Local Health Authority provided the Branch with a computer.

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On 14th December, the Alzheimer's Disease Society, Swansea and Lliw Valley Branch was officially opened by Mr.John Button then the General Manager of West Glamorgan Health Authority (now Chair of Swansea NHS Trust). The Branch had 25 volunteers, 1 telephone line, a few desks and a second-hand photocopier. The services that had been carefully prepared over the previous 12 months were launched - the Sitting Service with 25 patients, Carers' Meetings, the 24hr telephone service, Social Evenings and Doctors' Surgery visits.

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The first Carers' Meeting was held at The Lodge. It was a dark night and it was snowing, and the only people in attendance were David Moss and ....! The next meeting in February 1991 was a greater success, with 15 carers attending. The meetings have seen a steady growth ever since.

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The first AGM was held. £12,000 pounds had been raised in the Branch's first year of operation and there were now 100 members of the Society, up from 15 at the beginning of the year.

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Financial Position - Year Begin - £6780 Year End £10,441
Newsletter began
Sitting service expanded - sitting hours increased from 35 (1989/91) to 715
Whitbread UK Volunteer Award in recognition of the work of the Youth Branch

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Financial Position Year begin - £6,780 Year End £11,471
Sitting service expanded - sitting hours increased from 715(1991/2) to 2755
Carers meetings became twice monthly
Respite trips to Tenby for patients and carers began
Computerised database of Patients/Carers/Sitters/Committee/Branch members/Volunteers established

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Financial Position - Year begin £11,471 Year End £10,441
Sitting service expanded - sitting hours increased from 2755 (1992/3) to 3400
Carers meetings became 3 times monthly
Respite trips expanded

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Financial Position Year Begin 10,441 Year End £8,759
Sitting Service expanded - sitting hours increased from 3400 (1993/4) to 5800
Administration costs below 10% for the first time, thereby leaving more financial resources to be allocated to patient and carer services.
Easy rise chairs purchased to be lent out to carers and their patients
Branch Accounts computerised
Annual Summer Trips for Patients, Carers and Volunteers established

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Financial Position Year Begin £8,759 Year End £19,855
Sitting Service expanded - sitting hours increased from 5800 (1994/5) to 7000
Publicity/information initiative began targeting GP surgeries and hospitals
Minibus purchased through a Lottery Grant
£4000 of equipment to be lent to carers and their patients purchased
Swansea Social Services gave the Branch a grant to aid in the expansion of the Sitting Service
Branch arranged for patients to be transported, one day a week, to a NHS day care centre using the minibus (driven by unpaid volunteers)

Presentation of the minibus
One of the first patients to use the minibus

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Financial Position - Year Begin £19,855 Year End £15,773
Sitting service expanded - sitting hours increased from 7000 (1995/6) to 9132
Patient visits to NHS day care centre expanded to twice a week
Help of Benefits Agency enlisted re: Patient Welfare Rights
David Moss (Branch Secretary) elected to Swansea City Council Social Health Care Service Planning Group and also to the task group for the Elderly Mentally Ill.

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Financial Position - Year Begin £15,773 Year End £17,764
Sitting service stagnant - sitting hours decreased from 9132 (1996/7) to 8952 due to restricted funding
Respite Centre, jointly organised with Age Concern and Swansea Social Services, for patients with dementia established
Arrangements with on-call Psychiatrists strengthened
Grant awarded by local Health Authority to aid in expanding the Sitting Service
Young Sufferers Group jointly established with local NHS Trust
Carers' meetings expanded to total 400+ attendances
Respite trips expanded
Two young graduates recruited on a voluntary basis to work in The Lodge
Branch website launched

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Financial position - Year Begin £17,764 Year End £31,642
Sitting service expanded - sitting hours increased from 8952 (1997/8) to 12278
Respite trips expanded to 18 per annum
A total of 27 patients and carers funded for short holiday breaks
A total of 72 patients and carers were taken out on respite breaks to local theatre
Grants received from both Swansea and Neath/Port Talbot County Council to aid with the expansion of the Sitting Service
Computer equipment donated

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Financial position Year Begin £31,642 Year End £42,842
Sitting Service expanded - sitting hours increased from 12278 (1998/9) to 17055
Sitters, due to change in Employment law, became the first and only paid persons associated with the Branch
Week-long respite trips introduced

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The Management Committee has a variety of talents ranging from Consultants, General Manager for Swansea for Mental Health and her deputy, CPNs, Social Workers and Social Services Area Manager, Ex-personnel, Training and Management Staff, ex Bank Manager and Bank Staff, Ex-carers and Carers, Engineers, Cost Accountant, Surgical Fitter, Ex-Director of Finance (Council)

Also the Honorary President and vice Presidents which include Consultants, an MP, an AM, two Councillors, two JPs, Local Businessmen, Two GPs, Chemist.

But most of all the success lies with the commitment of the volunteers who give their time to help others less fortunate.

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