As part of Leeds Rhinos and Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s movement towards becoming a Dementia friendly club and environment, the Rhinos are inviting fans to take part in some free information sessions at dementia friends awareness events in May.
In the run up to dementia awareness week (running 21st – 27th May 2018) the club are calling on those interested in finding out more about the condition that affects over 850,000 people in the UK and 1 in 6 people over the age of 80, to join together in raising awareness and learning how to better identify and support people living with the disease.
In Leeds, the number of people aged 65+ with dementia in 2014 was 8,443 people, which is predicted to rise to an estimated 9,782 by 2020.
To help create a better environment for people living with the condition, sessions provided by the Dementia Action Alliance include information and interactive participation designed to help increase understanding of dementia, where attendees are encouraged to think of ways in which to make a difference to the lives of people affected by the disease in their community.
The free awareness sessions will underpin the wider work the Leeds Rhinos Foundation already undertake for those living with dementia in Leeds by hosting a monthly ‘In-Touch’ dementia support group in partnership with the Leeds City Council Peer Support Service at Emerald Headingley.
The month of May will also see Leeds Rhinos star and Leeds Rhinos Foundation Trustee Jamie Jones-Buchanan play his part in promoting awareness by attending the ‘In Touch’ group on the 10th May to provide a talk and meet attendees on the programme.
Jones-Buchanan said: “Dementia affects many people in our community, so through training more people, those involved can then hopefully turn that understanding into action when potentially assisting clients and fans in the future, so we encourage everyone to come along and play their part.”
The Foundation will also work with the Heart Community Centre in Headingley at the end of the month to provide an exclusive dementia friendly screening of the Leeds Rhinos’ feature length documentary film ‘As Good As It Gets’ for the In Touch group, hosted by Leeds Rhinos Foundation Health Improvement Officer Laura Buckle:
“We are delighted this year to put on a whole month of awareness events and support for people living with dementia throughout May, starting with a dementia takeover game on the 4th May which will get the message out there to a big audience on a matchday and then build on the momentum by inviting fans to join us for some free training sessions throughout the month,” she said.
Available dates for Free dementia training are as follows:
- Heart Community Centre, Headingley, (LS6 3HN) on the 1st May, 6-7pm
- Heart Community Centre, Headingley, (LS6 3HN) on the 8th May, 6-7pm
- Carnegie Cafe Bar, Emerald Headingley Stadium, (LS6 3BR) on the 15th May, 6-7pm
- Carnegie Cafe Bar, Emerald Headingley Stadium, (LS6 3BR) on the 22nd May, 6-7pm
Register your interest in a dementia friends training event here –
https://tickets.therhinos.co.uk
More information about becoming a dementia friend can be found here –
https://www.dementiafriends.org.uk/WEBArticle?page=what-is-a-friend#.WfsfCLp2tMs
Our In Touch club for people living with dementia is available through referrals with the Leeds City Council Peer Support Service visit https://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/health-and-social-care/adult-social-care/dementia-care to find out more
For any other enquiries relating to the work of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation around Dementia contact Laura Buckle at laura.buckle@leedsrhinosfoundation.org