VOLUNTEERS underwent a day's training recently, to become Tavistock Dementia Champions.

There are now 17 local volunteers from a wide range of organisations equipped to increase the awareness and understanding of dementia in shops, businesses and in voluntary or social groups and help create a dementia-friendly community.

The chair of Tavistock Dementia Action Alliance, Tony Parker, said: 'This is just the beginning of the next phase in our aim to make Tavistock more dementia-friendly.

'We had volunteers ranging from the churches to care providers, from technology directors to lawyers, and from financial advisors to town councillors and the local police.

'We are now going to approach all organisations in the town who want their staff or volunteers to know a little it more about the disease and offer some help and guidance on dementia and then perhaps we and they will then help remove some of the stigma currently associated with the term.'

Over the next six weeks Alliance volunteers will be distributing more information throughout the town about how businesses and other organisations can sign up to the scheme to become more dementia-friendly.

Any that do will be awarded the national recognition symbol if they can commit to certain principles and have the benefit of the briefing by the newly trained Dementia Champions.

If any shop or business wishes to sign up to the scheme, contact the Alliance at [email protected]">[email protected] or call 01364 631507.