York St John works to become Dementia Friendly

There are already more than 220 Dementia Friends and seven Dementia Champions within the organisation with the aim of all staff becoming Friends in the future.

The University delivers a range of group sessions for people with dementia and their carers, these include Dementia Café, dance group and exercise classes.

These are run by teams from the occupational therapy, dance and sports science programmes along with student volunteers.

In addition, the careers department has started a volunteer project for students who are Dementia Champions to promote and deliver Dementia Friends sessions both within the University and to partner organisations such as schools and businesses.

Dementia Friends information and awareness sessions are run monthly within the University as well as special sessions for students groups or staff departments.

Caroline Wolverson, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, said: “We are delighted to become a member of the Dementia Action Alliance and be working towards York St John University becoming a Dementia Friendly Community.”

York Dementia Action Alliance is an alliance of over 50 organisations from across the city working to take action to ensure York is a good place for people with dementia to live. York St John University is the only higher education institution in York to become a member.