BROWNIES and guides in Ilkley have become dementia friends after learning about dementia and how they can help those living with dementia in the community.

Dementia Friends champions Sylvia Bergin and Alison Eagle ran a Dementia Friends sessions with the 2nd Ilkley Brownies, followed by the 2nd Ilkley Guides, last week.

Alison said: "Using interactive activities the girls learnt about how the brain can be affected by dementia, and how it is like a set of fairy lights that controls not only our memory but also actions such moving and talking. Dementia can stop those fairy lights working, make them flicker on or off, or gradually fade making it harder and harder to do even simple things such as making a cup of tea or dressing, especially in the right order. At the end of each session they pledged Dementia Friendly actions such as being kind to those with dementia, not minding if they forgot their names and not laughing if they were confused or needed help. Each were given the forget-me-not badges of Dementia Friends to wear and asked to talk to their parents about the talk."

Dementia Friendly Ilkley Action are keen to encourage more young people to become Dementia Friends and would love to hear from similar organisations, youth groups or schools who would like Ilkley’s Dementia Friends Champions to deliver the free session, which takes about an hour.

Anyone over 16 can attend the free Dementia Friends monthly sessions at Clarke Foley, the next of which are Monday, April 24from 10am to 11am or Saturday, May 20, 2pm to 3pm. For more information or to book a session contact dementiafriendlyilkley@gmail.com or visit Ilkley Dementia Friends' website www.dementiafriendlyilkley.weebly.com.