0:00:04 > 0:00:07That is some height! In today's Community Life,
0:00:07 > 0:00:12join me as we explore the importance of trees in our lives.
0:00:12 > 0:00:13OK, so, here we go!
0:00:13 > 0:00:17And we're getting back on our bikes as the over-fifties are being
0:00:17 > 0:00:20encouraged to return to two-wheeled transport.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30But first on Community Life, have you ever wondered what life
0:00:30 > 0:00:34would be like if you were given a dementia diagnosis?
0:00:34 > 0:00:37Well, one charity believes their members' lives
0:00:37 > 0:00:39can still be full and rewarding.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43Our special reporter today is John, who himself has dementia.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51'I'm John. At first look, I'm a normal guy.'
0:00:51 > 0:00:54I also live with dementia.
0:00:54 > 0:00:58Dementia is a term for a collection of symptoms that rob people of
0:00:58 > 0:01:01their memories and brainpower.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04'It affects my life in lots of ways,
0:01:04 > 0:01:08'but it doesn't mean that I can't talk for myself.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10'I can still make decisions.'
0:01:10 > 0:01:13I helped set up Dementia NI.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17It's a charity that supports people with the same diagnosis as me,
0:01:17 > 0:01:22because we can still live happy and fulfilled lives.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26We challenge the stigma of our diagnosis.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28There are around 20,000 people
0:01:28 > 0:01:31living with dementia in Northern Ireland.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33We promote our rights and strive
0:01:33 > 0:01:38to make sure we get the services and support we need.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41So, somebody who gets dementia, like myself...
0:01:41 > 0:01:45Dementia NI members give talks and share our experiences in the
0:01:45 > 0:01:48hope that others can understand the condition.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Dementia NI was really set up to enable people with dementia
0:01:51 > 0:01:53to have their voices heard.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57We want more people to be aware of how they can help us maintain
0:01:57 > 0:02:00our independence within our community.
0:02:00 > 0:02:05Dementia NI is a unique organisation led by people living with
0:02:05 > 0:02:09dementia, supported by staff and volunteers.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15- Hi, John!- Hi, Frances!
0:02:15 > 0:02:18People will be surprised to see you out and about driving a car.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20You have a diagnosis of dementia.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24I know, John. I have been diagnosed with dementia,
0:02:24 > 0:02:28but that doesn't mean that I'm not still active and like getting about.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31It's fantastic to see people like you about.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35Other people don't realise that people with dementia still
0:02:35 > 0:02:37- have a life. - Life's for the living!
0:02:37 > 0:02:40And with dementia, you just don't lie down.
0:02:43 > 0:02:48This is Ronnie. Ronnie has been living with dementia for five years.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50He lives in supported housing
0:02:50 > 0:02:54and at first felt very isolated after his diagnosis.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58Beforehand, he was very depressed and he wouldn't want out of
0:02:58 > 0:03:02the house, but since he's joined Dementia IN, you can't keep him in.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04He likes to get out and about with Dementia NI and
0:03:04 > 0:03:07he likes to get the awareness across.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10Ronnie also speaks at events,
0:03:10 > 0:03:13explaining what it's like to live with dementia.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19Dementia NI has given me confidence to learn
0:03:19 > 0:03:24and get out for a couple of hours on a Friday,
0:03:24 > 0:03:25and I like it.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30There are more people living with dementia now than ever before.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Dementia NI helps us live life to the full.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Some of our members can still drive, but for the likes of me and
0:03:39 > 0:03:42a lot of the other ones, I had to return my licence.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45So unless you came along and helped us,
0:03:45 > 0:03:47I would still be stuck in the house.
0:03:47 > 0:03:51Volunteers are a vital part of what we do.
0:03:51 > 0:03:58Taking them, driving them to places, I get a lot of satisfaction, because
0:03:58 > 0:04:02it's a situation where you're doing something and it's of direct
0:04:02 > 0:04:06benefit to people, and they appreciate it very, very much.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10And it can make an amazing difference to people's lives.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13For me, public transport is really hard for me to do.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15I can't go anywhere on my own,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18or I would forget where I was going and not be able to get to the place.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22So people like Eamonn taking me to places I need to go
0:04:22 > 0:04:26gives me that freedom back. It gives me my social life back again.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29It makes me feel part of society again and doesn't exclude me.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Our activities help reduce isolation and allow our
0:04:34 > 0:04:39members to remain a part of society for as long as possible.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44We invite other organisations and service providers to come to
0:04:44 > 0:04:47our meetings and to hear what we have to say.
0:04:48 > 0:04:53Dementia NI takes our message out into the community, because we need
0:04:53 > 0:04:58to raise awareness and improve the lives of everyone who has dementia.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01If you live with dementia and would like to be involved,
0:05:01 > 0:05:03we would love to hear from you.
0:05:03 > 0:05:04We need volunteers to help
0:05:04 > 0:05:07with travel and to support us at meetings.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Any donations you could make would be greatly appreciated to
0:05:11 > 0:05:13help us continue our work.
0:05:13 > 0:05:14Thank you.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18If you would like to make a donation to Dementia NI,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21then go to our web page and click on the Donate button.
0:05:21 > 0:05:25And visit the charity's web page at dementiani.org
0:05:25 > 0:05:30for more information about how you or a relative can become involved.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42This is the first time I've been on a bike in almost five years.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45To encourage older people to return to cycling,
0:05:45 > 0:05:48a special course has been running in Belfast,
0:05:48 > 0:05:51and it has reinvigorated the people taking part.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57The first stage of the course is in a traffic-free environment,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00reintroducing them to the bike, and then we move on to the street
0:06:00 > 0:06:03environment, which is what we've been doing today, teaching them
0:06:03 > 0:06:06about where to ride on the road, riding along safely,
0:06:06 > 0:06:10sharing space with other motorists and with other pedestrians,
0:06:10 > 0:06:14and then to negotiate when they come to junctions,
0:06:14 > 0:06:17where they should be, where they should be looking and how
0:06:17 > 0:06:20to anticipate how motorists are going to behave.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Well, thankfully, so far the traffic has been sort of very limited,
0:06:23 > 0:06:26but it gives you a bit more encouragement to go somewhere
0:06:26 > 0:06:29else on your own bike. On your bike, as they say!
0:06:29 > 0:06:31I would say that people should stop thinking about it,
0:06:31 > 0:06:33just get on their bikes and go and do it,
0:06:33 > 0:06:36because thinking about it isn't getting you anywhere!
0:06:36 > 0:06:41I look forward to spending many more years on the road now I've
0:06:41 > 0:06:43been bitten by the bug!
0:06:44 > 0:06:47This course is being run today for Volunteer Now.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49If anyone wants to take part in the course,
0:06:49 > 0:06:51they can directly contact me at Sustrans,
0:06:51 > 0:06:55in our Belfast office, and we can organise a group for them to
0:06:55 > 0:06:59join or a tailor-made group for them themselves.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Now, I'm heading up this tree to find out about
0:07:08 > 0:07:12a special campaign to recognise the value of trees in our lives.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Did I mention I do not like heights?
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Right...
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Patrick, I have interviewed people in many weird and wonderful
0:07:25 > 0:07:29places, but never up a tree. What's happening today?
0:07:29 > 0:07:33We're here at Carnmoney Hill as we launch another initiative, and it's
0:07:33 > 0:07:38a call to people to actually help us to compile a charter for trees.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Tell me more about this tree charter. What actually is it?
0:07:41 > 0:07:45We asked people over the last year to tell us why trees were
0:07:45 > 0:07:48important to them. We've gathered all those stories.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50We will produce a charter,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53and that charter will help to guide our work in the years to come.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57What are we like, Patrick, for woodland cover in Northern Ireland?
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Sadly, we're bottom of the league table.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03We've got about 8% woodland cover. When we look further afield in
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Europe, they've got a whopping 46% cover.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10So we're very, very much behind, and lots need to be done.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13If people want to get in touch, Patrick, how do they do that?
0:08:13 > 0:08:16It's as easy as just go online,
0:08:16 > 0:08:19feed in Tree Charter and follow the directions,
0:08:19 > 0:08:23and then you have an opportunity to be involved in what is an
0:08:23 > 0:08:25absolutely fantastic initiative.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27Right, well, Patrick, don't let me hold you back any longer.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31More information on the tree charter can be found on our website,
0:08:31 > 0:08:35where you'll also find contact details for today's programme
0:08:35 > 0:08:37and, of course, our community notice board.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41Hopefully, I will get down from here before it gets too dark!
0:08:41 > 0:08:43I'll see you next time. Bye-bye.
0:08:43 > 0:08:44Right, Patrick, you first.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46Thank you!