Basildon dementia charity Peaceful Place wants 30 firms to give £1,000 a year for three years. Two family carers made the second pledge. Party on 24 September.
Peaceful Place, the Basildon dementia charity on Timberlog Lane, is 30 years old this year. To mark it, the charity is asking 30 local businesses to pledge £1,000 a year for three years.
If all 30 say yes, that is £30,000 a year and £90,000 over the three years. The charity calls the campaign “30 businesses for 30 years”.
Two pledges are in so far. The first came from local businessman Stuart Philpot. The second did not come from a business at all. Two family carers, whose loved ones are supported by Peaceful Place, have jointly committed £1,000 a year for the full three years.
Chief executive Charlotte Curran told Basildon Today they did it “because they wanted to help ensure Peaceful Place is here for other families in the future.”
The pledge that was not from a business
The charity’s press release describes the second pledge as “one of the most moving moments of the campaign”. Curran’s account of it is worth reading in full.
“That was incredibly touching,” Curran said. “These are family carers who understand first-hand what Peaceful Place means, not only to the person living with dementia, but to the whole family.
“For two carers to come together and say, ‘We want to help make sure this service is still here for other families,’ was very emotional for us.
“They are not businesses. They are families who have experienced the difference Peaceful Place can make, and they wanted to give something back.
“I don’t think there could be a stronger endorsement of the value of the service.”
On the first pledge, Curran said: “Stuart was the first to say yes, and that meant a great deal to us. Sometimes it just takes one person or one business to lead the way, and we hope his commitment will encourage others to follow.”
What a day at Peaceful Place looks like
Members are collected from their homes across Basildon, Southend, Thurrock and the surrounding areas. At Peaceful Place they get a cooked breakfast and lunch, and take part in activities.
The charity lists these:
- walking football, golf, bowling and boccia
- swimming, gym sessions, yoga and boxercise
- music therapy, choir and ballroom dancing
- art and allotment activities
- the Friday Mystery Tour
Its motto is “Living our best lives”.
“Dementia can take away many things, but it should never take away someone’s right to friendship, laughter, activity, achievement and a sense of belonging,” Curran said.
“When you walk into Peaceful Place, you don’t see people sitting around because they have dementia. You see people playing football, swimming, singing in a choir, dancing, bowling, creating art, going to the gym and supporting one another.
“That is what living well with dementia can look like.”
The charity also sees its work as support for the families at home. “Behind every person we support there is often a husband, wife, partner, son or daughter whose life has also been changed by dementia,” Curran said. “Knowing that the person they love is safe, active, engaged and enjoying their day can make an enormous difference to the whole family.”
The buses that make it possible
Transport is at the centre of the service, the charity says. Its drivers start early, travelling across South Essex to pick members up. They then support the outside activities during the day and take everyone home again.
“For many of our members, without our transport they simply would not be able to access these opportunities,” Curran said. “Our drivers don’t just drive a bus. They know our members, they support them and they are an essential part of the Peaceful Place team.”
Why ask 30 businesses
The idea is a network of local firms behind the charity, so it can plan ahead with some confidence. Curran was clear that no single sponsor is being asked to carry it.
“We are not asking one company to solve everything,” Curran said. “We are asking 30 businesses to stand alongside us and say: we want Peaceful Place to continue supporting people living with dementia and their families.
“If 30 businesses each commit £1,000 a year for three years, together they can make a significant and lasting difference.”
The anniversary year has already included a Family Fun Day for members, families, staff, volunteers and community partners. The charity says it also hopes the milestone will challenge assumptions about what is still possible after a dementia diagnosis.
“This anniversary gives us an opportunity not only to celebrate what Peaceful Place has achieved over 30 years, but to start building the foundations for the next 30,” Curran said. “And when the people who have relied on your service are among the first to step forward and help protect its future, that tells you just how much Peaceful Place means to families.”
What it means for you
The charity is holding its 30th Anniversary Celebration on Thursday 24 September 2026.
- Where: Peaceful Place, 261 Timberlog Lane, Basildon SS14 1PA
- When: reception from 6:30pm, speeches at 7pm, finishing at 8:30pm
- What: a cocktail evening hosted by the trustees and chief executive, with cocktails and canapés
- Who: supporters, local businesses and community partners. Any local business that wants to hear more about the campaign is invited.
The printed invitation asked for replies to administration@peacefulplace.co.uk by 14 September, so if you run a business and want to go, email today or ring the charity first.
Businesses that cannot make the evening but want to back the campaign can contact Peaceful Place directly on 01702 546476, or through peacefulplace.co.uk.
If you are caring for someone with dementia in the Basildon area, the same contact details are the place to start.
For other ways local groups are raising money this autumn, the council’s £100,000 Community Together Fund is open for bids of up to £5,000. If you are running something local, tell us.
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