The Social Care Information Team are Dementia Friends 

21 May 2025

Dementia is a syndrome associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning. There are many different causes of dementia, and many different types.

While there is no cure for dementia, a person can live well with it. Staying healthy and getting the right support can be helpful. Some people with dementia need a lot of help. Others may not need help for a long time after they find out they have dementia and people can live with it for many years.

Research shows there are more than 944,000 people in the UK living with dementia which equates to 1 in 11 people.  The number of people with dementia is increasing because people are living longer. 

It is estimated that by 2030, the number of people with dementia in the UK will be more than 1 million.  

What is Dementia Friends? 

Dementia Friends aims to give people a better understanding of dementia and the small things we can all do to make a difference to the lives of people affected by dementia. 

Dementia Friends is led by Alzheimer’s Society and is one strand of its work to create Dementia Friendly Communities.

By becoming a Dementia Friend at work or as a volunteer, you’ll be supporting people affected by dementia - including customers, colleagues or even friends; helping people to feel understood and supported and improving their experience. 

As more and more of us do this, we’ll help people with dementia feel understood and supported in their communities. 

How can I get involved?

The Social Care Information Team wish to encourage other departments throughout the Council to become dementia friends and have followed in the footsteps of the Value in the Vale Team.

The Dewis Team and other volunteers have recently helped to prepare 100 blue leaflet bags in preparation for the first Turn Barry Blue event which will be held on May 21st at Barry Library.

The event aims to raise awareness and tackle the stigma that surrounds dementia.

The first Turn Penarth Blue event will be held on May 22nd in the Paget Rooms in Penarth.   

Why not come along and meet the Dewis Team at one of these venues along with many other information stalls. 

The first Llantwit Major Dementia Open Day was held on April 12th and Cowbridge is busy planning its event in September.

For more information on how you and your team could work toward becoming a Dementia Friend please contact Sian (so'donnell@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk) or Miles (mutting@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk).