The British Ironworks Centre in Oswestry has created blue butterflies to support Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) during a dementia campaign.

The Trust, which runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital (RSH) and Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital (PRH), has used Dementia Action Week (May 21-27 ) to officially launch a range of custom made, beautifully handcrafted steel butterflies.

Each butterfly is 20cm in diameter and 42cm in length. One-thousand of the butterflies will go on display at SaTH’s Charity Fun Day on Saturday July 7 – which this year celebrates the 70th anniversary of the NHS.

All of the profits raised from the sale of the butterflies - which will go on sale at a special rate of £10 at the fun day and then £12 going forwards - will go to the SaTH Charity’s Dementia Appeal to assist hospitals with the creation of dementia-friendly spaces and to buy equipment and resources that will help to reduce confusion, anxiety and distress for patients who have dementia.

Karen Breese, clinical nurse specialist for Dementia at SaTH, said: “Each individual butterfly has been handmade by the talented team at the British Ironwork Centre and will provide a fitting memento to help us provide improved care and support for patients living with dementia.

“With 800,000 people living with dementia in the UK it is likely everyone knows someone who will benefit from this campaign. Anyone is welcome to purchase a butterfly, and the improvements we make today will go a long way to helping you and your loved ones in the future.”

The blue butterfly is the official symbol of the Butterfly Scheme; an initiative founded by Barbara Hodkinson to help hospitals provide a system of hospital care for people living with dementia or who simply find that their memory isn’t as reliable as it used to be.

Barbara, who is fully supportive of SaTH’s Blue Butterfly Appeal, said: “The Butterfly Scheme reaches out to people living with dementia and anyone needing memory support. We are delighted to support this fabulous campaign and I look forward to joining Team SaTH at the official launch on 7 July.”

The SaTH Butterflies, priced £12 each, will be available to buy from SaTH’s catering outlets at RSH and PRH as of July 9. Visitors to SaTH’s Charity Fun Day on Saturday July 7 can purchase them at a discounted price of £10 each.

The British Ironwork Centre has been a huge supporter of SaTH during 2018 – the 70th year of the NHS – and will have a large presence at the Trust’s fun day having already agreed to create a sculpture to mark the anniversary using obsolete hospital equipment.

Clive Knowles, owner of the British Ironwork Centre, said: “It’s a privilege to support our local acute hospital Trust and we will look to increase our efforts throughout the 70th year of the NHS.”

Chief Executive of SaTH, Simon Wright, who recently presented Mr Knowles with a Community Champion Award, added: “I am thrilled with the company’s continuous support. The British Ironwork Centre is a truly generous corporate partner and a real asset to the community.”