A volunteer is running his own market event in Swindon to offer families more free things to do in their community, particularly over the summer holidays.

David Ible, who has worked in social care for eight years, primarily works for Find Memory Care, where he visits care homes and hospitals across the South West and London to see how they can be made more dementia-friendly, with the use of murals, colours and signage.

Alongside organising a fayre and craft market on Sunday, August 18 at Christchurch Hall, he also sings for care home residents and is researching ways to make Swindon town centre easier for people with dementia to navigate.

David said: “I love getting people together in the community and if we can boost the local independent traders that just need an outlet to sell then surely that's got to be good.

“There will be around 13 or 14 little family-run stalls that sell incredible hand-crafted gifts for such little cost, like homemade jewellery, knitting, Lego boxes and film memorabilia.

“While I’ve been working in care and entertainment, I’ve noticed the difference it makes getting people together, especially after Covid. A lot of people want to get out and about and these free events are not well advertised. It’s a nice opportunity for people to get out and socialise, even when they don’t have the money for it.

“As a split parent and single dad myself, I know I’m always looking for free events. With something like this, people can come and look and they don’t have to spend any money, so they know there are events out there that don’t have to cost the Earth.

“I love working to help improve the daily lives of people living with dementia and my favourite thing to do is singing in care homes. Music is my main passion and I have been to Kingsmead Care Home and Quarry Mount in Swindon.”

“I like doing nice things for people and asking them to pay it forward. I think I do all this because I wish more people were kind.

“I was poorly a few years ago with my mental health, so I want to help others. I owe a lot of my happiness to my partner, my parents and my children”, he explained.

The market will run from 1pm to 4pm and David is happy to be contacted for more information: dgievents1@gmail.com.