ON top of raising nearly £900 from Alzheimer’s Support’s memory tree event on Saturday, the Trowbridge charity has been named as a finalist in a national award scheme.

To mark World Alzheimer’s Day, hundreds headed down to the Trowbridge Community Sensory Garden to add a leaf to the memory tree there, listen to music from the town’s youth band and the pop-up dementia choir, browse the stalls and enjoy some refreshments.

The fifth edition of the event raised a record amount for the charity, much to the delight of Alzheimer’s Support spokesman, Stephany Bardzil.

“It was a wonderful day out at the sensory garden and to raise nearly £900 is fantastic. I want to thank everyone who chipped in, who made this possible,” she said.

“It was lovely to see people add a lead to the tree in memory of a loved one or just recording a special memory they had. Everyone was smiling and enjoying themselves. The music was great, the atmosphere was very jolly and everyone went home happy.

“To keep us going every year we need £300,000 so every little boost we can get, such as this one, is hugely appreciated.

“This day coupled with the award nomination just shows that we are on a roll.”

The charity’s one-to-one support at home service is a finalist in the Best Team category of the National Dementia Care Awards. Registered Services Manager Sally Haddrell-Jenks will meet judges in London next week in the final round of the contest before the winners are announced at a gala dinner part of the National Dementia Congress in November.

Mrs Haddrell-Jenks said: “We are all absolutely thrilled to be in line for this award. This is a team award and to have got so far is a tribute to our amazing support workers who every day go the extra mile for people living with dementia here in Wiltshire.”

The National Dementia Care Awards is an annual event created to recognise the very best people working in the dementia care sector across the UK.

CEO Babs Harris said: “I am so proud of our staff. The Support at Home team work out of the spotlight, in people’s homes or just quietly helping individuals to lead as normal a life as possible in communities throughout Wiltshire. So it is wonderful that the exceptional work they are doing is receiving this recognition nationally.”