Drake Circus and The Barcode takes action against dementia

To mark Dementia Action Week, Drake Circus and The Barcode has partnered with local dementia charity Memory Matters, encouraging people to take action in the fight against dementia.

Memory Matters works to improve the lives of those affected by dementia, and members of their team were at Drake Circus today (Thursday 18th May) to raise awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and allow people to discover more about both the support they provide and ways to contribute to the charity. 

The collaboration is part of Drake Circus’ ongoing commitment to ensuring the centre is a dementia-friendly environment for all visitors.

Throughout this week, 10 members of the centre team have taken part in training by Age UK Plymouth to become Dementia Friends, taking the total number of trained Dementia Friends at Drake Circus to 25.

Dementia Friends have undergone training to understand the needs and experiences of people living with dementia so they can further help their community, allowing them to take small actions such as providing extra support in a shop queue, that enable people living with dementia to shop within a considered and safe environment.

Greg Lumley, centre director at Drake Circus, said: “As a trustee of Memory Matters, I know only too well how important the work they do is. I’m pleased to be able to partner with them this week and work together to share their important message with people across Plymouth. 

“At Drake Circus and The Barcode, we’re committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all, and hope that with more highly trained Dementia Friends we can further increase the support we provide for shoppers and their families living with Dementia.”

The centre also runs sensory shopping hours, designed to accommodate individuals with sensory challenges, which take place on the first Saturday of every month from 9am to 10am.

For more information about Drake Circus and The Barcode’s support for Dementia Action Week, visit: https://www.drakecircus.com/news/dementia-action-week