A NEW partnership in Peasedown St John has made a dementia-friendly sweet available to the public for the first time, free of charge.

Jelly Drops are sugar-free sweets made up of 95 per cent water, with added electrolytes and vitamins, and are designed to support fluid intake. They are aimed at people living with dementia who may experience difficulties maintaining adequate hydration.

They were invented by Lewis Hornby, who was inspired by his late grandmother and her love for sweets. Lewis developed bright, raindrop-shaped sweets as an easy way to increase her daily water intake.

As part of Peasedown St John’s long-term campaign to create a dementia-friendly community, local charity the Peasedown Community Trust has teamed up with Bluebird Care – a national partner of ‘Jelly Drops’ – to make sure these groundbreaking sweets are now available locally.

Library operations manager, Cllr Karen Walker (Independent, Peasedown) said: “We’re thrilled to be working with Bluebird Care to make these new, innovative Jelly Drop treats available to the public.

“Dehydration is a common challenge for older people, particularly those living with dementia. Memory problems mean that people living with dementia can often forget to drink enough water. These treats are sugar-free, vegan and 95 per cent water, so beneficial for hydration especially for people who struggle to intake enough water each day.”

Jelly Drops are available in a range of colours and are presented in a transparent container designed to make them more visible to people living with dementia, who may otherwise forget they are there.

Both the innovative packaging and the shape of the sweets themselves, allow them to be easily accessible, even for those who are less dexterous.

Cllr Gavin Heathcote (Independent, Peasedown) is chairman of the Peasedown Community Trust, said:“Jelly Drops are difficult to get hold of in Bath & North East Somerset, so this new partnership means that this groundbreaking, and in some cases ‘life saving’, snack can now be collected for the first time locally at a public collection point.”

Peasedown Community Library, located at The Hive Community Centre on Bath Road, Peasedown St John (BA2 8DH), is open on Mondays from 11am to 3pm, Wednesdays from 2pm to 4pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 1pm. From this month, Jelly Drops are available to collect from the library during opening hours.

Becci Streeter, Business Development and Relationships Manager for Bluebird Care B&NES, said:“We’re pleased to be working with Peasedown’s local councillors and the team at the Peasedown Community Trust on this new initiative.

As a provider of specialised home and live-in care for people living with dementia, we’re always looking for new ways to raise awareness of the condition, and support those who have been diagnosed with it.”

“It was great to meet Karen and Gavin when I visited Peasedown Community Library last week. It’s inspiring to find out for myself what work they’re doing to create a dementia-friendly community.”

For more information Jelly Drops visit Peasedown Community Library, or email the Peasedown Community Trust at [email protected]