A range of events are being held that offer you the chance to learn how you might be able to help the growing number of people who suffer with dementia. The events are being held as part of Dementia Awareness Week, next week (21-27 May).

According to Alzheimer’s Society there are currently 850,000 living with dementia in the UK, with that set to rise to one million by 2025 and then double to two million in 2051.

Become a dementia friend, or champion

All of the events throughout the week in the borough can be found on the council website. As well as providing you with more information on living with the condition, the events will also give you the opportunity to sign-up to become a ‘dementia friend’, someone who volunteers to encourage others to make a positive difference to people living with dementia in their community. You do not need to have any particular experience or skill-set to get involved.

You could even undertake an induction run by the Dementia Friends charity and become a ‘champion’. This means you could begin to run sessions locally – such as coffee mornings – or even set up a Facebook group.

You would be given access to resources and tools to help you and would receive support from a regional officer.

You may not need to set up anything special to run a Dementia Friends information session. If you are already part of local networks, such as a book club or residents’ association, then you could organise a session at one of your meetings or among a group of friends or at work.

Pictured above is a Dementia Friends group in Greenford.

You can find out more about becoming a champion and undergoing an induction.