PEOPLE living across South Gloucestershire now have the opportunity to find out more about dementia, thanks to a series of free workshops.

Chipping Sodbury-based Bluebird Care South Gloucestershire has set itself the challenge of hosting ‘Dementia Friends’ sessions in every town and village of the district by the end of the year.

Managing director of Bluebird Care South Gloucestershire, Sophie Rowland-Jones, said:

“One in four people will be affected by dementia in their lifetimes, which is why it’s important to work with individuals and their families to try and make life much easier for those who have it.

“A recent report made recommendations to the government about the need to continue to raise awareness of dementia, and the work that can be done to make our communities more dementia friendly.

“With the specialist services we provide at Bluebird Care we are determined to do just that with these new Dementia Friends sessions.”

Set up by the Alzheimer’s Society, the Dementia Friends Initiative has been running across the country for a number of years and focuses on improving inclusion and quality of life for people living with dementia.

By holding information workshops in towns, villages and cities across the UK, the society’s ambition is to work with people affected by dementia and key partners to develop dementia-friendly communities.

By doing so people will be aware of and understand more about dementia, people with dementia and their careers will be encouraged to seek help and support; and people with dementia will feel included in their community.

Bluebird Care’s free Dementia Friend sessions will be run by care worker Jill Jotcham, a newly trained Dementia Champion.

For more information or to request the firm hosts a Dementia Friends session for you contact Bluebird Care by calling 01454 323 624, emailing southglos@bluebirdcare.co.uk, by visiting www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/southglos or visiting their office at 82 Broad Street, Chipping Sodbury.