Worcester has taken a big step to becoming a “dementia friendly community” according to the UK’s leading dementia charity.

Worcester Dementia Action Alliance has again been awarded the status of ‘working to become a dementia friendly community’ following an annual assessment by the Alzheimer’s Society.

Such a community is described as a city, town or village where people with dementia are understood, respected and supported.

Kat Horner, Midlands Dementia Friendly development officer for the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Worcester Alliance has continued to be a strong voice for people with dementia.

“The Worcester community are in a good position to continue making the city a more dementia friendly place to live.”

The WDAA was founded in December 2016 and is a network which is made up of a wide range of organisations such as care providers, charities, sports clubs, city centre shops and businesses which work together to make the city a more dementia friendly place.

Individuals are also welcomed to join, as Dementia Friends.

Throughout the pandemic the alliance has continued to hold zoom meetings and help people living with dementia in Worcester enjoy life to the fullest.

Lynn Denham, chair of Worcester Dementia Action Alliance, said: “It has been a difficult time for many people living with dementia.

“We are pleased that the Alzheimer’s Society has recognised the work that we have continued to do.”

She added: “I want to thank all our alliance members for their dedication and for their achievements during the past year.

“The Alliance has ambitious plans to make Worcester more dementia friendly.

“We are talking to some new partners and are keen to help any business or venue become more dementia friendly.”

This summer members of the alliance opened the first dementia meeting centres in Worcester.

Meeting centres are a concept first developed in the Netherlands before being introduced to the UK by University of Worcester's Association for Dementia Studies (ADS).

Director of the ADS professor Dawn Brooker said: “Worcestershire is the first local authority in the country to make provision for this vital community support which we believe could be a real game changer.”

Read about the meeting centre that opened in Evesham here.

Age UK and Onside Advocacy, members of WDAA, provide the Dementia Wellbeing Service across the county and can be contacted on 0800 008 6077 or at referralhub@ageukhw.org.uk.