ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is encouraging retailers to get involved in their campaign in collaboration with Alzheimer’s Society to create 25,000 Dementia Friends in the convenience sector.
The campaign coincides with ACS’ 25th anniversary and aims to create 25,000 Dementia Friends in the convenience sector to help customers, colleagues and communities affected by dementia.
Dementia is the 21st century’s biggest killer in the UK. Someone develops the condition every three minutes, but too many face it alone and without adequate support, even though two thirds of people with dementia live in their local community.
To tackle the issue, ACS is uniting with Alzheimer’s Society, which is at the forefront of a movement to ensure everyone living with dementia is understood and included in society, with its Dementia Friends initiative being the largest of its kind, uniting over three million people to help change the way the nation thinks, talks and acts about dementia.
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We are proud to be working with Alzheimer’s Society on this campaign and we’re delighted with the engagement that we’ve had so far with members signing up online, downloading our new guidance and attending our regional training sessions.
“Local shops have a unique reach into the communities that they serve and are often a lifeline for their customers, particularly for those who may be more isolated or vulnerable. I would urge all colleagues working in our sector to take part in the campaign and become a Dementia Friend to understand how they can better support their colleagues and customers living with and affected by dementia.”
Colleagues can become Dementia Friends by visiting dementiafriends.org.uk/dforganisations and entering campaign code ‘ACS25’ before watching the short videos.
ACS has also developed a Supporting Vulnerable Customers guide which provides retailers with best practice advice on how they can support customers and colleagues in-store including those living with dementia. To request physical copies of the guide, email [email protected] with your requirements.
For more information about the campaign please visit www.acs25.co.uk
