BRADFORD on Avon Dementia Action Alliance has been awarded £950 to produce a new booklet on support for people living with dementia.

The group is one of the recipients of the first round of funding of the government’s £4 million Local Connections Fund designed to tackle loneliness in local communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

BoA DAA work with local community groups and businesses to make Bradford on Avon more welcoming and accessible for people living with dementia.

It joins more than 840 other charities, community groups and small grassroots organisations across England to have received a grant to help people feel more connected within their communities.

Grants ranged from £300 to £2,500 and were awarded to organisations with an annual income of less than £50,000.

Bradford on Avon DAA received a grant of £950 to produce a booklet providing support for people living with dementia to help both the person with the diagnosis and their families and friends to continue to take an active part in their community.

It will also provide advice for businesses and other organisations on how they can support people living with dementia to use their services and be valued customers.

Penny Welch, chair of the Bradford on Avon DAA, said:

"Covid has had a devastating impact on people living with dementia, not only those in residential care but also those living at home.

"All the activities and groups in the town were suspended and are only now just starting up. It has increased isolation, especially for carers, who often relied on these activities for a few hours respite a week.

"We will be using a regularly updated insert in the booklet to publicise any suitable activities, so contact us if you want your group to be included.

"We are also running Dementia Friends sessions, either face-to-face or via Zoom, to increase awareness of how we as individuals can better support people with dementia. Contact email: dementiafriendlyboa@gmail.com."

The booklet is available at Bradford on Avon Library, at The Hub in Church Street and at the health centre.

If you want a copy sent to you, please email dementiafriendlyboa@gmail.com or call 07771 621233. It is also available on the group's website: https://dementiafriendlyboa.org/

The Local Connections Fund is made up of £2 million from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and £2 million from The National Lottery Community Fund.

The second round of funding for the Local Connections Fund will be provided by The National Lottery Community Fund and applications for this will launch in the summer.