Press release (15) - DVSC launches its #DementiaAware Community Led Grants
New Year is a time when many of us focus on new resolutions – drinking less, eating well, and staying fit. DVSC is starting this January by asking everyone living and working in Denbighshire including our members, supporters and volunteers to focus on living well, and ageing well by aspiring to the five ways to wellbeing, and coming together with others to raise awareness about dementia and the challenges of an ageing society.
Our awareness raising initiative marks the launch of DVSC’s Dementia Aware Community Led programme funded by Welsh Government until end of March 2020.
Helen Wilkinson, Chief Executive of DVSC said:
“We are excited to be launching New Year with a call out to change makers across the County to come together and raise awareness about dementia and its effects. We want to inspire community led conversations, events, and initiatives in local neighbourhoods and localities across Denbighshire. We have a great training programme of events lined up to help people learn more and our Community Fund can help translate greater awareness into action”.
DVSC’s Dementia Aware Community Led programme aims to empower communities to generate and transform awareness about dementia into community led action. We will work with people who have dementia, their carers and the mainstream population, the local voluntary and community sector and local town and community Councils. We will support individuals and voluntary and community groups to campaign and raise awareness about dementia in their local communities and establish and develop a Dementia Aware Communities Network so we can build a movement for change across the county.
Helen Wilkinson, Chief Executive of DVSC said:
“We don’t want to be prescriptive and we want to tap into the energy, and ambition of social entrepreneurs and all generations, as well as our usual stakeholders and so for the first time ever, individuals as well as voluntary and community groups, third sector organisations and social enterprises operating in Denbighshire are eligible to apply”.
The idea might be as simple as hosting a coffee morning; running a training programme; or hosting a public meeting to see if there is an appetite to go on a journey towards recognition as a dementia friendly community”.
By 2021, the number of people with dementia across Wales is projected to increase by 31% and by as much as 44% in some rural areas. There are 45,000 people living with dementia in Wales, 11,000 in North Wales and 1,511 in Denbighshire.
DVSC’s mission is to build resilient communities through voluntary action and social enterprise and enhance individual and community wellbeing. We want to encourage people to live well, and age well.
If you have a great idea - whether you’re an individual, or a member of a voluntary and community group, third sector organisation or social enterprise - visit www.dvsc.co.uk/dementia-aware-community-led-grant and fill out the application form, and apply for our Dementia Aware Community Led Programme Grant.
Learning and Training Opportunities
DVSC is also running a number of FREE training courses to raise awareness about dementia. These courses were selected following feedback from DVSC members and customers.
All courses will be held at DVSC, Naylor Leyland Centre, Well Street, Ruthin, LL15 1AF, contact Debbie Neal 01824 702335 debbien@dvsc.co.uk for further information and to confirm your place, please use the corresponding Eventbrite link below:
Monday 28th January - Step inside dementia
Training Provider - Alzheimers
Full Day
Monday 4th February - Understanding Dementia
Training Provider - DEEP
Full Day
Monday 11th February - Responding to distressed behaviours
Training Provider - Altzeimers
Full Day
Monday 18th February - Running Great Activities
Training Provider - Alzheimers
Full Day
Monday 4th March 2019 - Making connections with people with dementia
Training Provider - Alzheimers
Full Day
Monday 11th March - How to engage and influence decision makers
Training Provider - DEEP
Full Day
Wednesday 27th March - Supporting customers with dementia and other cognitive difficulties
Training Provider - Alzheimers
Full Day
Monday 1st April - Understanding dementia and LD
Training Provider - Alzheimers
Full Day
Notes to Editors
About DVSC
DVSC is the membership body for volunteers, voluntary and community groups, third sector organisations and social enterprises.
Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council, DVSC, the County Voluntary Council operating in Denbighshire. Our mission is to build resilient communities through voluntary action, and social enterprise, provide excellent support for our members and to be an influential voice in Denbighshire and North Wales.
DVSC works closely with North Wales CVCs, and is a member of the Wales-wide network of CVCs which in partnership with the Wales Council of Voluntary Associations (WCVA) forms the partnership that makes up Third Sector Support Wales.
To make sure you are kept up to date when funding opportunities are available make sure to subscribe to our mailing list by following the link - Subscribe for News Updates & Bulletins.
For further information contact Helen Wilkinson, DVSC’s Chief Executive, helenw@dvsc.co.uk 01824 702 441 or 07713 997 075 Or Julie Pierce, Marketing and Engagement Officer julie@dvsc.co.uk 01824 709 321
Follow us on twitter @DVSC_Wales, Instagram and like our #DenbighshireVolunteers and DVSC facebook pages.
