As the country came together to raise awareness of dementia last week for #DementiaAwarenessWeek, Leeds Rhinos Foundation put the cap on a month of events delivered to support people living with the condition that affects over 850,000 people in the UK.
In the run up to dementia awareness week (running 21st – 27th May 2018) the club invited those interested in finding out more about the condition to attend one of four free information sessions in partnership with Dementia Friends Leeds at Heart Cafe in Headingley as well as Emerald Headingley Stadium.
The sessions which provide training on how to better identify and support people living with the disease were attended by over 30 people who all increased their understanding of the condition including many staff from the club and foundation.
Fantastic to see more staff and fans coming together to work towards becoming a #dementiafriendly club.
Every one of our course attendees found out more information about dementia and how to support those living with those living with the condition. Big thanks to @leedsdaa pic.twitter.com/wnRD872GU8
— Rhinos Foundation (@RugbyLeeds) May 16, 2018
The free awareness sessions underpinned the wider work the Leeds Rhinos Foundation which takes place on a monthly basis at the stadium in partnership with the Leeds City Council Peer Support Service through the In Touch Group for people living with dementia, who during their May session received a special guest appearance from Leeds Rhinos star Jamie-Jones Buchanan.
Our 'In Touch Club' in partnership with the Leeds City Council had a visit from @leedsrhinos' Jamie Jones-Buchanan yesterday.
We're running two FREE @DementiaFriends training events in May to educate more fans on becoming #dementiafriends Find out more https://t.co/L90Oh8IZqL pic.twitter.com/4XklI6KSbk
— Rhinos Foundation (@RugbyLeeds) May 11, 2018
Leeds Rhinos Foundation Trustee Jamie Jones-Buchanan spoke to attendees on the programme during the session regaling some rugby league stories from his upbringing in Bramley and career at the Rhinos, while also extending an invite to the charity's exclusive dementia friendly screening of the Leeds Rhinos' feature length documentary film 'As Good As It Gets?'
The screening which took place during Dementia Awareness Week was attended by the In Touch group as well as members of Leeds Rhinos other health and social programmes with over 80 people enjoying a dementia friendly screening of the feature film at Heart Community Cafe.
Over 80 attendees from our Leeds Rhinos Foundation health and social programmes joined us for a special sensory friendly viewing of As Good As It Gets? last week as part of #DementiaAwareness week. pic.twitter.com/H4o7y5moSw
— Rhinos Foundation (@RugbyLeeds) May 30, 2018
Health Improvement Officer for Leeds Rhinos Foundation Laura Buckle commented on a landmark month for the charity in May.
"We've had an extremely successful month of raising awareness of one of the city's biggest health challenges affecting older people with 8,443 people over the age of 65 currently diagnosed with the condition.
"Our goal at Leeds Rhinos Foundation is to play our part in raising awareness but also providing opportunities for the wider community to better support and recognise ways to help those affected, so we were delighted to see people attend the information sessions and so many people join us for our dementia friendly viewing at Heart Cafe."
See the video of Jamie Jones-Buchanan's visit to the In Touch club below.
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