Football mascot becomes Dementia Friend in partnership with Alzheimer's Society

Hartlepool United has taken steps towards becoming a dementia friendly club by training its mascot, H’Angus the Monkey, as a Dementia Friend.

Together with full-time staff at the League Two outfit, H’Angus took part in a Dementia Friends information session, as part of a new link-up between Hartlepool United and Alzheimer’s Society.

This will enable the club to support those living with dementia as best as possible.

Mark Burrows, operations director at Hartlepool United, said: “We want the club to play a part in helping to break the stigma connected with dementia and this was our first small step.

“The message from us is that we’ll do whatever we can to make sure any fans living with dementia can continue to enjoy supporting Hartlepool United in as comfortable an environment as possible.”

H’Angus the Monkey, played by Michael Evans, is the first football club mascot in the country to become a Dementia Friend.

The initiative comes as part of Hartlepool United’s involvement with #TeamDementiaFriends, a campaign launched in August to get on board with Dementia Friends.

By coming together in this way, the Alzheimer’s Society hopes to ensure those living with dementia can continue to do the things they love, like supporting their favourite football team.

Mr Burrows added: “By educating our staff and those that will be communicating with our fanbase on a regular basis we can make sure that this club becomes truly dementia friendly.”

Turning understanding into action

As Dementia Friends, H’Angus and colleagues will have gained a better understanding about what it is like to live with dementia and they can then turn this understanding into action.

This can range from reaching out to people living with dementia, to taking initiatives to raise awareness of dementia and help others be more understanding of those living with the illness, which will, in turn, create more dementia friendly spaces and communities.

Andrew Ball, Dementia Action Alliance project manager and Dementia Friends Champion, delivered the information session at Hartlepool United’s Northern Gas and Power Stadium, where staff were encouraged to ask questions to further their knowledge of dementia.

Mr Ball said: “Hartlepool United is an integral part of the local community here and I am overjoyed they are taking steps to become dementia friendly.

“Hartlepool is recognised as a dementia friendly community and having the support of such a community-spirited club is great.

“Dementia Friends will give them information about what it is like to live with dementia and turn this understanding into action; this will mean such a lot to those with dementia who watch Hartlepool United Football Club regularly.”