As part of the campaign to tackle the stigma, and help improve the understanding around dementia I will be running a free ‘Dementia Friends’ Information Session on Saturday 14 October.

Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia.  It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, talks and acts about the condition.  Dementia Friends is about learning more about dementia and the small ways we can help. From telling friends about the Dementia Friends programme to visiting someone you know living with dementia, every action counts.

Having already volunteered to be a Dementia Friend myself, I am now organising this Dementia Friends Session to increase awareness locally.

I signed up to be a Dementia Friend because of the value of understanding more about how dementia is impacting on so many people across our country, and locally, and the practical things I could do to help support people with dementia and their families. It’s easy to get involved. I attended a training course which really helped my understanding of this condition, and I’m proud to be part of this growing network of people.

I very much hope that residents from across my Aldridge-Brownhills constituency will be able to join me at my Dementia Friends information session on 14 October.

 The Session will take place at Wendy’s Constituency Office, 82 Walsall Road, Aldridge WS9 0JW.  Anyone wanting to reserve a place to attend this Dementia Friends Session should telephone 01922 452228 or email maria.smith@parliament.uk. People can also get involved in Dementia Friends through an online video at dementiafriends.org.uk to find out more.