SOUTHEND has been officially recognised by the Alzheimer’s Society as a place that is working to become a dementia friendly community.

The news comes as the Borough gears up for Dementia Awareness Week which starts on Sunday and runs through to Saturday May 21.

A dementia friendly community is described as a city, town or village where people with dementia are understood, respected and supported and confident they can contribute to community life.

The status has been awarded thanks to the partnership work of the Southend Dementia Action Alliance (SDAA) which was launched in March 2015 to help the Borough become a ‘Dementia-Friendly’ town.

The SDAA is made up of businesses, services and community groups all working in partnership with the council.

The status means that the SDAA is formally working towards meeting the dementia friendly criteria.

Nancy Smith, Strategy and Commissioning Officer for Dementia said: “This is a great achievement for everyone involved in the SDAA and well deserved.

“So much has been achieved in such little time and we are delighted that our work has been officially recognised by the Alzheimer’s Society, particularly so close to the national awareness week.

“All organisations involved have pledged to do their best to help make life easier for people affected by dementia, and those who care for them and this shows that everyone recognises how vitally important it is to do everything we can to assist.

"In Southend we have at least 3,000 people living with dementia so it is vital that we continue our work and achieve full dementia friendly status.”

A host of events are being held across the Borough next week as part of the national Dementia Awareness Week, kicking off with a dementia friendly version of Mary Poppins at The Palace Theatre at 2pm on Sunday.

Other activities include a Dementia Festival at Chalkwell Park in partnership with Metal and Netpark on Monday 16th.

This will present an interactive intergenerational experience like no other where people can learn how the Netpark aims to bring dementia and nature together.

Refreshments will be available and information stalls from Southend Dementia Action Alliance members. This event takes place from 10am until 4pm and Walk & Workout with the Active Life ladies at 1.30pm.

A ‘Time for a cuppa’ fundraising event at Southend Hospital will also be held on Tuesday 17th between 11am and 2pm and local people can meet the Dementia Friendly Southend Waitrose team on Friday 20th for refreshments and cake and find out how Waitrose partners are supporting people affected by dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Society will also be present to provide information and support from 10am until 12noon.