A CAMPAIGN to improve the lives of people with dementia, and their carers and families, in Crediton has got off to a flying start.

The Crediton Dementia Friendly Day and information fair – organised by the Crediton branch of Devon Senior Voice (DSV), the voluntary forum for the over-50s – provided a platform for the launch of the Crediton Dementia Alliance, which aims to work towards the town becoming a dementia-friendly community.

Around 100 members of the public, voluntary workers and health professionals heard how the Alliance – made up of representatives of DSV, the town's two Rotary clubs, together with Alzheimer's Society volunteers and other community groups – plans to establish a network of shops, businesses and town organisations – including schools – that is committed to supporting people with dementia and their carers.

Opening the day, the Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch, said that the Alliance's chances of success were great, as the town was the "friendliest I have ever lived in".

Brian Shillingford, chair of the Alliance, said that Rotary Club volunteers had received a very positive response to the scheme from their initial approaches to Crediton shops and businesses.

Kennerleigh resident, Tanya Carver, spoke movingly of how she had cared for her late husband Phil, who had died from dementia and how much easier life would have been for both of them had the dementia-friendly community scheme been operational then.

Alzheimer's Society volunteer Marion Pollinger, a "Dementia Friends" champion and trainer for Crediton Dementia Alliance, outlined the Society's various support services and said that she would be holding two dementia-awareness training sessions in the town in October.

(To book a session, please go to http://www.dementiafriends.org.uk">www.dementiafriends.org.uk and click the "Find a Session" button and enter the word "Crediton".)

Other speakers included: Liz Hitchens, of the Dementia Friendly Parishes Around the Yealm project; teacher Julie Luckhurst, of Okehampton College, about how the school had become dementia friendly; solicitor Jenny Slater, of Symes Robinson and Lee, on legal issues surrounding wills, lasting powers of attorney and the role of the Court of Protection; fitness coach Jane Fulford; and consultant psychiatrist Dr Mark Harrison on the various kinds of dementia and their diagnosis and treatment.

Event co-organiser Ron Cuthbertson said: "The day really did get Crediton Dementia Alliance off to a flying start and I'd like to thank everybody who helped to make it a success."

For more information go to the Crediton Dementia Action Alliance section on the website: http://www.dementiaaction.org.uk">www.dementiaaction.org.uk .

Alan Quick