CAMPAIGNERS are spreading the dementia friendly message in Weymouth and Portland.

As reported in the Echo, a commitment has been made to support sufferers and increase awareness with the launch last year of the Weymouth and Portland Dementia Action Alliance.

With backing from the Alzheimer’s Society, the alliance has been created by those who want to improve the experiences of locals living with memory problems and dementia-related illnesses.

Now a mosaic plaque has been produced by the alliance working with Dorset Volunteer Centre to promote the cause.

The funding for the project came from Synergy Housing through its neighbourhood panel and local craftsman Lawrence Adams worked with volunteers over three days to produce the mosaic.

Community development officer for Weymouth and Portland Julie Hursthouse said: "The W&PDAA is a small charity and one of many local Dementia Action Alliances across the country with a growing membership of over 900 organisations from the public, private and voluntary sectors.

"Its purpose is to develop a dementia friendly Weymouth and Portland for people with dementia, their carers and families, voluntary and statutory services and the wider community.

"W&PDAA is encouraging local business to help improve the lives of over 14,000 people living with dementia in Dorset, plus the thousands of visitors to the area, by becoming aware of how to deal with people who have dementia and how to make slight adjustments to their premises to make them more user friendly."

Any businesses wishing to know more about the project or would like to take up the opportunity of free staff training can contact Julie Hursthouse on 01305 838497 or email j.hursthouse@westdorset-weymouth.gov.uk for more information.

Mrs Hursthouse said once staff have been trained, businesses in the town centre will be presented with a window sticker to recognise this. The window sticker incorporates a forget me not flower and states they are proud to be part of the local alliance.

The alliance is one of the chosen charities of this year's mayor, Christine James.

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