A STEERING group, formed to build on the success of a town’s hard-earned dementia friendly status, has held an inaugural meeting pledging to ensure a future community where dementia suffers and their families will feel included and welcomed.

The inaugural meeting of the Steering group for Crickhowell combined with the Living with Dementia Society Annual Cheque Presentation took place at the Bear Hotel.

The group aim to build on the success of the Dementia Friendly Community Award which was was presented at the Town’s Caffi Croeso in July.

To earn the award, Crickhowell and the surrounding communities had to show what has been done to raise awareness and promote understanding of dementia, including demonstrating how people living with dementia are understood, respected and supported.

Co-founder of the Living with Dementia Society, Mike Alderton who runs the organisation with wife, Suzan, spoke of how their charity started off only two years ago after a chance meeting with Tim Jones, a local camera man and producer from Crickhowell.

Tim had been a part of a crew who had filmed early onset dementia suffer, Chris Roberts, over a period of 18 months. Chris was diagnosed at the age of 50. His wife Jayne and family illustrated the challenges not only for Chris but for his family and friends.

Mike said, ’When we invited Chris and Jayne to Crickhowell to give a talk on living with dementia, it was our intention to raise awareness about the disease and the response was remarkable.’

Since then Suzan and Mike have organised a concert for the Beaufort Male Voice Choir and have had several raffles. Suzan said, ’The prizes have all been donated by our wonderful and generous businesses, hotels, shops, cafes and individuals in Crickhowell. Mike and Suzan have presented cheques to the Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK and Alzheimer’s Research UK amounting to £8,000.

They have also raised enough money, including donations from Thames Valley Construction and the U3A, to fund the social dementia friendly Caffi Croeso in Crickhowell for another two years.

Suzan commented, ’We cannot believe the support and generosity we have witnessed. We have raised £24,000 since September 2017. Previously we have donated to Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK, DiMP and Dreams and Wishes. We cannot name everyone as there are so many people who have helped us along the way. So we would like to give a big thank you to one and all.’