A �10,000 lottery grant will help St John Ambulance Devon provide help for patients suffering from dementia, including those living in care and nursing homes in the Sidmouth area.

A �10,000 lottery grant will help St John Ambulance Devon provide help for patients suffering from dementia, including those living in care and nursing homes in the Sidmouth area.

The Big Lottery Fund's grant will help St John produce more Memory Boxes and Life Story Books.

These are a vital tool in helping reminiscence activities within care and nursing homes, enabling those with memory problems and dementia to spark good memories of their past life.

This, in turn, reduces their isolation and improves their self-worth.

St John Ambulance Voluntary Service (SW) has a role in promoting the interests of older people in the community and works in partnership with NHS, private hospitals and care/nursing homes to promote the well-being of all older people and help make life a fulfilling and more enjoyable experience for them.

Memory Boxes are used by trained volunteers to lead this life story work with patients, enabling them to record their individual personal life history.

This not only benefits the patient but helps care home staff to better inter-react with them

Ken Griffiths, manager of St John Voluntary Services in the South West said: "The award of this money is a godsend, as St John is a voluntary organisation using unpaid volunteers.

"We do not receive any direct government or NHS funding for our many activities, so this money will be used directly to help dementia patients in care and nursing homes."

A St John's spokesman added: "We operate in many care homes in Devon, including the Sidmouth area and the memory boxes will be of enormous benefit to those elderly patients who have severe memory problems in such areas.