Dementia Studies Graduate Successful in Gaining Funding
BSc (Hons) Dementia Studies graduate Jill O'Connell has recently been successful in gaining funding as part of a scheme sponsored by Wakefield Council to help the local community become more dementia friendly.
Jill, who works for Wakefield & Five Towns Alzheimer’s Society is part of a team who won funding to roll out a Schools Dementia Awareness Programme. She piloted the approach with Key Stage 2 pupils at two primary schools before bidding successfully for the £2000 funding. “It was great news when we found out the bid had been successful,” she says, “allowing us to roll out the programme to a further 15 schools over the next 12 months”.
The panel who judged the proposal describe it as, “a highly innovative, unique and exciting project that will educate younger people about dementia and improve their understanding at an early age”. A key part of its innovative nature is the involvement of Sara Hale, a former schoolteacher, herself diagnosed with dementia at the age of 60. Sara will work with Alzheimer Society volunteers Sandra Tyrrell, also a teacher, and Robert Bird, who has many years’ experience in the care home sector, to deliver a programme of dementia awareness for schoolchildren is both fun and interesting but also challenges stereotypes related to dementia. As Sara says, “Because I have this (dementia) it affects me remembering things but does not mean I can’t do what I have always done; go walking, read, drive and enjoy my life. I think going into schools teaching children about dementia is a wonderful idea and I have really enjoyed being involved.”