ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) is working with the Alzheimer’s Society to create 25,000 Dementia Friends in the convenience sector to help customers, colleagues and communities affected by dementia.
As part of the campaign, ACS is running a number of regional face-to-face training events which are free for members to attend.
The training sessions are designed to help colleagues to better understand how they can support someone living with dementia including spotting the signs of dementia, physical effects, impact of dementia on in-store behaviour and interactions and how to effectively support customers who may be affected by dementia.
The regional sessions are taking place in:
- Lincoln
- Darlington
- Manchester
- Warwick
- Harrow
- Plymouth
- Bradford
- Preston
- Northampton
- Cardiff
- Ipswich
- Portsmouth
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Local shops have a unique reach into communities and play a key role in the everyday lives of the people that they serve, not only providing essential products and services but also acting as a social hub for their customers. By becoming a Dementia Friend colleagues will be able to gain an understanding of how they can better support customers and colleagues affected by dementia.
“I would urge retailers, staff and people working with convenience stores to get involved the campaign and encourage your colleagues to do the same.”
Colleagues can become Dementia Friends by visiting dementiafriends.org.uk/dforganisations and entering campaign code ‘ACS25’ before watching the short videos.
For more information about the campaign please contact [email protected] or [email protected].
