Monmouthshire County Council staff donned Elf hats, stripy tights and festive attire to raise over £200.00 for the Alzheimer’s Society on Wednesday.

The Alzheimer’s Society, Elf Day is a popular fundraising day and has become an annual occurrence at Monmouthshire County Council. This year staff raised an amazing amount of money and have set the bar with their chosen choices of attire.

Staff across a variety of teams and locations including County Hall, Property Services, Mardy Park Resource Centre, Innovation House and Abergavenny Hub became Santa’s Helpers for the day. The outfits were amazing and raised many smiles, officers made a huge effort to ensure that as much money as possible was raised for a cause close to the heart if many staff.

Money was raised in many ways including, a donation for the pleasure of dressing in festive wear, staff baked and brought cakes which were sold to staff and visitors to all locations. A visit from the Monmouthshire Community Choir provided carols in the foyer of County Hall, Usk. Staff and visitors to My Day My Life, Abergavenny brought a Christmas gift stall to sell to staff at County Hall. Staff at Mardy Park stepped up to the challenge of a Mince Pie Bake Off.

The support that The Alzheimer’s Society provides is vital in our county, the number of Monmouthshire people aged 65 and over predicted to have dementia is expected to increase by 82% from 1377 in 2012, to 2,506 in 2030.

The council works closely with partner organisations such as Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and the voluntary sector to provide a range of information, advice and support from signposting people to information to providing complex care in a person’s home. The approach in all circumstances is to provide support that responds to what matters to each person and is based on meeting needs as expressed by the person themselves.

Monmouthshire County Council works with individuals to plan their own care plans and listens to the wishes of the people they support to help them live the life they want to live.

Cllr Maureen Powell said ‘The Alzheimer’s Society is one of my chosen charities, I aim to raise as much money as I can this year. I was so pleased to see staff embracing the day, their enthusiasm and commitment is immense. I am very grateful to the generosity of staff to raise money for a life changing charity. I would like to thank everyone involved.’

For general information and advice on dementia contact The Alzheimer’s Society http://www.alzheimers.org.uk or call the Dementia Helpline 0300 222 11 22.