Buckley pupils work towards creating a dementia friendly community

Donna Miles launched a project in the town, taking the topic of dementia into local schools to start the conversation, in a bid to create a dementia friendly environment.

The steering group delivered a project that brought different generations together to raise awareness of the condition.

She said: "As the founder of this project I feel extremely humble to see all the people we have worked with and more turn out to celebrate the great work of the schools towards making Buckley a dementia friendly community.

"It is lovely to see so many people committing to learning more ways to help those who have dementia to live well.

"I have had a passion that we cannot tackle dementia alone and as a dementia practitioner notice that unfortunately many people are isolated in their own communities or even sometimes disregarded from society as they have been given a diagnosis of dementia."

Pupils from Southdown, Mountain Lane and Elfed worked with the group to complete a four-stage programme, which included taking part in awareness sessions, and pupils also took part in a drama-based workshop where they gained further understanding of how to communicate.

The youngsters also visited local memory cafés and by the end of the programme, were able to deliver a joint showcase, hosted at Elfed High School, to show what they had learnt.

Following the performances, each pupil involved was awarded by Jim Ibell - who himself is living with dementia and is an Alzheimer's Society Ambassador - for their contribution to the project in front of their peers and parents.

Donna added: "I was surprised how the children took to learning about a sometimes-scary topic and seeing the connections that have now been made.

"It was lovely to see age was no barrier and most certainly the diagnosis of dementia was not either.

"This project was about Buckley united against dementia by not bringing the community but educating the younger members of society in how they can be dementia friendly in their community."

The project, called the 'Never-Ending Story - Connecting the Generations', started in 2016 and was to investigate whether young people and those living with dementia could be connected by imagination.

Overall, 900 dementia friends were created from the three schools - including pupils and staff.

Natalie Brant, learning director for expressive arts at Elfed High School, said: ''It was a privilege to be able to host this wonderful event.

"Awareness of dementia and being a 'dementia friend' is so important, and I know that our students, and the local community have benefited hugely from this project."