CAFÉ IN THE COMMUNITY
Driving force of Café Neuro Operating a café with a difference, a neuroscientist is using a van to change lives. Back in 2004, Dr Neil Bindemann founded what was called the Primary Care Neurology Society, predominantly focused on the education and support of health professionals. But little did he know how much life would change just over a decade later. “The idea of developing a mobile ‘café’, via a van, evolved out of a number of changes, which were triggered a few years on from my own life-saving brain surgery in 2015,” said Dr Bindemann. “A tumour was discovered after an MRI scan to investigate a range of unusual mental and physical experiences. “I had a ‘penny dropping’ moment when I suddenly thought we must have health professionals living with neuro-related disorders. This led to a name change and we became the Person-Centred Neurosciences Society. As part of that, we introduced a new vision and mission, which now includes supporting the emotional health of a person diagnosed with a neuro-related disorder – whether a health or nonhealth professional.” With a creative mind, he decided to get out and about and connect with others in imaginative fashion – leading to both the pop-up/drop-in Neurocafe physical space in Tonbridge and the more mobile Café Neuro Kafe van, meeting people at the likes of Farmers’ Markets, food and drink shows,
alongside attending and exhibiting at health professional events. This has also included the Tunbridge Wells Food and Drink Festival. “The café concept was perfect, because it is typically where people go for social interactions and fitted well with our desire to support a growing community who have received lifealtering medical news.” The Tonbridge Neurocafe was launched in April this year, with a message of support from local MP, Tom Tugendhat. The response has been tremendous, with a wonderful team of volunteers helping out each month to give visitors refreshments. “The cakes – or should I say kakes! – have been donated via my recently launched ketobakery.co.uk,” continued Dr Bindemann. “This is also something that evolved out of living with a brain tumour. As a neuroscientist, I was working on a project which highlighted how epilepsy can be managed through the ketogenic diet, with known benefits across neuro. So, I changed my diet and began baking keto cakes as a result!” Another key event for Dr Bindemann was the Tonbridge Teafest. “It was a fundraising activity that took place in the summer of this year, which included local music groups. We believe it was the first ever charity fundraiser with delicious cakes, that
were baked with little to no sugar! “I wanted to show (via support for two charities close to my heart: Brainstrust and Matthew’s Friends) that it is possible to hold an alternative type of cake sale – i.e. without sugar – which could help lower the risk of illnesses like diabetes or cancer developing. We raised over £4000 and I hope to run the Teafest again soon.” Ultimately, the goal is to create and deliver engaging services that support the provision of more person-centred care, especially for people who live with a neuro-related disorder. The hope is that the society can guide healthcare services to treat or care for the person – be they health or nonhealth professional – and not just the ‘medical diagnosis or label’ that can be attached to an individual. As for Dr Bindemann’s journey, it’s looking positive. “I recently visited my neurosurgeon for a six-monthly checkup. In his letter to my GP, he wrote: ‘His most recent imaging from today is stable, if not even better than the imaging from six months ago.’ This confirmation was amazingly uplifting.” To get involved or for more information, visit: p-cns.org.uk lifestylehealth.org.uk neurocafetonbridge.org.uk
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