THORNBURY is one step closer to being a more dementia friendly town after meeting representatives from groups that provide support to people with dementia and their carers.

Hosted by the town council, mayor of Thornbury, Guy Rawlinson welcomed members of organisations including Age UK and Thornbury Memory Café to discuss plans.

Cllr Rawlinson said: “We have some very good services including the Memory Café and the Singing for the Brain Group in Thornbury and we know that it is a hub, with people coming from quite a wide area to access the services.

“Sadly, we know too that there is more that could be done for people with dementia in the town.

“We now want to raise the bar so that people with dementia in Thornbury, together with their carers, can feel respected and supported, and feel that they can contribute to community life.”

The drive to make the town more dementia friendly came from Thornbury resident Jane Gilliard. She was part of the working group that wrote the Department of Health’s National Dementia Strategy and has both personal and professional experience of working with the disease.

“There is evidence that many people with dementia feel isolated as they become cut off from their friends and from former activities," she said.

“We also know that people with dementia are often frightened to go out because they fear embarrassment or worry about what people will think of them.

“If local services like transport, leisure facilities and the shops understand dementia better, it will give people greater confidence to remain active and involved.”

The meeting was chaired by Cllr Clive Parkinson on behalf of Thornbury Town Council.

Cllr Parkinson said: “We want to involve all businesses and organisations in Thornbury so that everyone understands dementia and what we can do to make life easier for people with dementia and give them greater confidence.”

As a result of the meeting a steering group was formed. The steering group would like to hear from anyone with dementia or a carer who lives in Thornbury or the surrounding villages, to find out what changes are necessary to make things easier, and also from those who would like to be part of the steering group.

To contact the group call Thornbury Town Hall on 01454 412103.