Cabinet joins David Cameron in becoming Dementia Friends for #GivingTuesday

Prime Minister David Cameron and members of the cabinet have become Dementia Friends as part of the Alzheimer’s Society’s national initiative to increase awareness.

Participating in a Dementia Friends information session, Cabinet members were able to learn more about dementia and what they can do to help people living with the disease.

The session took place during a weekly Cabinet meeting signifying the Government’s dedication to supporting #GivingTuesday, created for use on Twitter, whilst providing the opportunity for communities, business and charities to work together to help a good cause.

After the Dementia Friends session, Mr Cameron tweeted: “A brilliant session by @DementiaFriends at Cabinet. I want ministers to ensure staff in their departments to join this great scheme.”

Dementia is currently recognised as being the UK’s biggest health problem in people over 55 and costs the UK more than £26 billion per year.

The session was led by chief executive for the Alzheimer's Society, Jeremy Hughes and chief nurse at Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital, Eileen Sills.

Mr Hughes said: “Dementia is the biggest health challenge facing the country today and cannot be ignored. By the end of the next parliament over one million people will be living with the condition.

“The Prime Minister and his Cabinet have shown leadership in the fight against dementia. By becoming Dementia Friends, they are raising awareness and understanding of dementia. Every government department has a role to play to improve the lives of people living with the condition. The Cabinet is joining businesses and communities across the country in saying people with dementia must be included and supported. Everyone can become a Dementia Friend.”

The Dementia Friends initiative is a joint venture by Public Health England, supported and funded by the Department of Health and the Cabinet Office. The scheme is the biggest ever created to challenge people’s interpretation of dementia, changing the way that people think, talk and act around people with the condition nationwide and within Parliament.

The session coincided with the release of a Dementia Friends TV advert appearing on screens again from 1 December. Starring in the advert are a number of celebrities such as Sir Terry Pratchett, Chris Martin and Lily Allen encouraging people to become Dementia Friends this Christmas.

It is possible to become a Dementia Friend by attending a face-to-face session or by watching a short video online and the Government aims to create 1,000,000 Dementia Friends by 2015.

Furthermore, in the Autumn Statement, chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne announced plans to give an additional £15 million to fund research into dementia, on top of the £66 million that the Government has already pledged towards dementia research.

Mr Hughes said: ”David Cameron is committed to making dramatic progress towards a cure for dementia by 2025 so it’s encouraging to see him turning these words into action through continued global and national leadership.

“This announcement is significant given that investment in this area is so crucial. Alzheimer’s Society continues to fund vital research and work with the government to tackle dementia.”

The Alzheimer’s Society predicts one in three people will develop dementia this year, and by 2015 there could be 850,000 people in the UK with a form of dementia.