As part of their Welsh Baccalaureate Community Challenge, three Brecon High School students, David Penn, Keegan Williams and Prashant Rana undertook some fundraising activities to raise money for the Brecon Area Dementia Friendly Community.

Morrisons

Morrisons in Brecon is striving to become a Dementia Friendly business and, as part of its commitment, has introduced two ‘Relaxed Shopping’ sessions each week aimed at giving people living with Dementia, their Carers, and others with additional needs, a more positive shopping experience.

The sessions will be held on Mondays between 9am and 12 noon and on Saturdays from 9 to 10am. For the duration of these sessions, lights will be lower, there will be no tannoy announcements or music played, and there will be a dedicated checkout for the use of those who may need extra time, help and support.

During the coming weeks Dementia Awareness Sessions will be delivered to Morrisons staff so that people living with Dementia and their carers can be confident that shopping in-store will be a positive experience, where they will be assisted by Dementia Friends who have made a commitment to taking positive action in order to offer real, positive and informed support.

The Brecon Area DFC, in cooperation with Freedom Leisure and Brecon College, are offering Dementia Friendly FUN Activity Sessions, which are open to people living with dementia and their carers. A range of activities will be available to suit all abilities and, for the second part of the session, the carers will be free to enjoy a swim or some other activity safe in the knowledge that their loved ones are enjoying themselves in a safe, caring environment.

Several more local businesses, having attended Dementia Awareness Sessions in recent months, have also committed to 'Working To Become Dementia Friendly '. They are now proudly displaying the sign which lets customers know that they are contributing to our overall aim of making Brecon a Dementia Friendly, inclusive community. The businesses in question are The Castle of Brecon Hotel, Brecon Car Sales, Likeys and Beat It Percussion.

Rather belated update on the launch of the Brecon Business Dementia Alliance!

The event went really well and was attended by 20+ people from local businesses, including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Brecon, all of whom were really engaged and committed to making their own businesses Dementia Friendly.

On Thursday 7th September at 6pm we are launching the Brecon Business Dementia Alliance, (BBDA), in the Brecon Guildhall.

Lots of businesses in Brecon have already committed to becoming Dementia Friendly and we're hoping that more will sign-up, and that they will all become more proactive in making their businesses truly Dementia Friendly.

Another two businesses in Brecon recently signed-up to become Dementia Friendly, The Clarence Inn and Woodland Davies Solicitors.  Lots of Dementia Friends Awareness Sessions are being delivered in various locations including the museum, care homes and hotels.  It’s really encouraging to see how much interest there is locally, which bodes well for the upcoming launch of the Brecon Dementia Alliance: watch this space for more details!

In Memory of Jo Cox

17th June, 2017