Dementia friendly Kent awards

Created by the dementia Kent action alliance

We at The Good Care Group were delighted to be involved and sponsor the dementia friendly care awards created by the dementia Kent action alliance.

Press release

Finalists from around Kent have been chosen for the new dementia friendly Kent awards launched earlier this year. The awards celebrate the great work carried about out by volunteers, organisations and projects to help make Kent more dementia friendly.

There have been many nominations for the seven award categories. These were all judged by 28 people from across Kent who are living with dementia.

The awards were created by Kent dementia action alliance and sponsored by Kent organisations and businesses to increase awareness and understanding of the condition, reduce stigma and help make communities more supportive for people living with dementia. The alliance is made up of partners from Kent County Council, the NHS, district and borough councils, local businesses, the voluntary sector and Kent residents all working together.

Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health Graham Gibbens said: “Step by step these achievements are changing people’s perceptions about the condition and transforming the way people act, talk and think about dementia. As more and more people become involved in making their local communities dementia friendly, we expect that this wonderful work will only continue.

“The Dementia Action Alliance is working hard to make Kent a better place for people living with dementia, we know there is still a long way to go to truly bring about a society wide response to dementia, but every step in the right direction is one worth taking.  Through these awards we wanted to showcase some of the innovative and excellent work happening across Kent and hopefully encourage others to become part of the journey with us.”

Oasis academy shines in dementia awards

Students from Oasis academy in Sheppey won two top accolades in the dmentia friendly awards 2015 hosted by Kent County Council.

The students have been given the top honour for the Best Community Involvement Initiative for their hard work in hosting seven ‘themed’ cafés, which have been a hit for local residents of local care homes.

The academy was also awarded the Best Intergenerational Initiative Award for involving various departments within the secondary school as well as students from local primary schools, who put on various performances.

The awards were created by Kent Dementia Action Alliance and sponsored by Kent organisations and businesses to increase awareness and understanding of the condition, reduce stigma and help make communities more supportive for people living with dementia. The alliance is made up of partners from Kent County Council, the NHS, district and borough councils, local businesses, the voluntary sector and Kent residents all working together.

Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health Graham Gibbens gave the opening statement for the awards.

He said: “Step by step these achievements are changing people’s perceptions about the condition and transforming the way people act, talk and think about dementia. As more and more people become involved in making their local communities dementia friendly, we expect that this wonderful work will only continue.

“The dementia action alliance is working hard to make Kent a better place for people living with dementia, we know there is still a long way to go to truly bring about a society wide response to dementia, but every step in the right direction is one worth taking.  Through these awards we wanted to showcase some of the innovative and excellent work happening across Kent and hopefully encourage others to become part of the journey with us.”

To find out more please contact Dementiafriendlykent@kent.gov.uk or call the Dementia Friendly team on 03000 415 483.

List of Nominees

Kent’s Best Organisational Initiative Award
Dementia Workshop for Family Carers, Faversham
Caffé Eighty Nine, Whitstable

Kent’s Best Partnership Project Award
The Forum Shopping Centre, Sittingbourne
Tunbridge Wells Jive Party, Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells Museum & Art Gallery, Tunbridge Wells

Kent’s Best Community Involvement Initiative Award
Hartley Memory Café, Hartley
Good Neighbours, Tunbridge Wells
Town Walk, West Malling
The Oasis Academy Dementia Café, Isle of Sheppey

Kent’s Best Intergenerational Initiative Award
The Oasis Academy Dementia Café, Isle of Sheppey
Memory Makers, Folkestone
My Life Story Books, Gillingham
Age UK Sunshine Saturdays, Thanet

Kent’s Dementia Volunteer Award
Stan Day, Sheila Aitken, Gordon Baylis and Vera Baylis, Meopham and Gravesend
Emma Boyd, Kings Hill
Jackie Tuppen, Thanet
Blean Dementia Lunch Club, Blean

Kent’s ‘Medway’ Volunteer Award
John Portman, Medway
Barbara Ongley, Medway

Kent’s Inspiring Person with Dementia Award
David Evans, Dartford
Lorraine Brown, Medway
Keith Oliver, Canterbury

To download pictures from the event click here