A HIGHWORTH man has been recognised for his sterling work with the Dementia Friends initiative.

Kevin O’Donoghue has been congratulated by the Alzheimer’s Society after creating more than 1,000 Dementia Friends in and around his hometown.

The social action movement aims to change the way people think, act and talk about dementia, so everyone gets the support they need in their healthcare and their community.

Kevin said: “The more people who have an awareness and understanding of the condition the better.

“Ideally, they should then use that knowledge to make a small action which helps people with dementia

“I went to four schools to do sessions and speaking at assemblies, so I’d get hundreds of new Dementia Friends at each school visit.

“The kids are great because they’re really engaged and inquisitive, the sessions were the best things I've done in quite some time.

"It feels like I’m helping to create a dementia-friendly generation which won't have any of the stigmas or fears that are currently associated with dementia.

“Organising these sessions isn’t easy and I couldn’t have done it without the help of Susan Lambert, Swindon Borough Council’s Dementia Friendly Coordinator."

Kevin became a Dementia Friends champion in 2017, two years after he retired.

He added: ““When I retired I thought to myself that I’d like to get involved in some volunteering.

“I was looking into opportunities in mental health, and I happened upon Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends initiative and I thought it sounded interesting.

“Initially I attended one of the information sessions and following that I decided to become a Dementia Friends Champion.

“I thought I knew quite a lot about dementia but the information session proved really insightful.

“I feel as though the more people who have an understanding of what it’s like to live with dementia then the more people there will be that carry that awareness and that they’ll be more patient and understanding.”

Around the UK, 2.5 million people have taken part in the initiative, including 149,311 people in the south-west.

To become a Dementia Friend, attend an information session run by the Alzheimer’s Society.

The sessions provide an insight into the condition and explain how that understanding can be turned into action to support people in the community.

For more information, visit alzheimers.org.uk