Get Together Group Barking become Dementia Friends

Md Ismael

THE GET TOGETHER Group at the Ripple Centre in Barking & Dagenham has taken part in a dementia awareness workshop as part of the team’s engagement programme. The group has now completed the Dementia Friends training programme and each participant is committed to carrying out dementia friendly actions to promote awareness of the condition.

As part of their learning, the group, which included Barking & Dagenham councillors Jeanne Alexander and Peter Chand, also discussed five key messages relating to dementia awareness. There were interactive scenarios and participants learnt more about what it is like to live with dementia and how to turn that understanding into action.

Dementia Friends Information Sessions are run by volunteer Dementia Friends Champions, who are trained and supported by the Alzheimer’s Society. Each Information Session lasts around one hour. Participants learn more about dementia and how they can help to create dementia friendly communities. There are information sessions running across England and Wales.

Emdad Rahman, the Dementia Friends Champion who led the session, said, “The group members were very keen and on the ball. There were lots of questions and I was mightily impressed with the concern shown by those participating and the show of commitment towards carrying out Dementia friendly actions.”

Joan Brandon, who leads the Barking & Dagenham Volunteering Bureau, added, “We are very pleased to work in partnership with Emdad and it gives me tremendous satisfaction seeing someone we trained as a volunteer at the London 2012 Olympics continue to remain so active.”

After the session group members spoke of turning their  understanding of dementia into a practical action. Councillor Peter Chand was the first to sign up. “I’m going to campaign for change,” he said. Councillor Alexander added: “I will wear my badge and keep telling friends about the Dementia Friends initiative.”

•Dementia Friends help to make life better for people living with dementia in their communities. Every action helps to make life better for people affected by dementia. To join those who are helping to change the way the nations thinks, acts and talks about dementia go to:
www.dementiafriends.org.uk

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