Buttsbury Foremost In Challenge Of Dementia

The first Dementia Friendly Schools award from the Billericay Dementia Alliance goes to Buttsbury Junior School.  We are delighted to reproduce here the Gazette’s announcement of this award to the home of our second RotaKids Club, a school close to our hearts and the first school to be presented with an award for being Dementia Aware.

To achieve the award, pupils aged between 7 and 11 at the school had to meet and show evidence of five different outcomes over the academic year.  Outcomes included being aware of dementia and how it can affect others, sharing the dementia friendly message across their school community, reaching out to the elderly community and reflecting on how they can best understand and help other people.

Two-Year Action Plan

As part of the award, which six local schools have already signed up to achieve, Buttsbury has put together a two-year action plan to further increase understanding of dementia in the school and support the community. 

Headteacher Ann Robinson, said: “At Buttsbury, we have always had a strong link with The Ark Centre which provides support for people living with dementia so it was wonderful to be able to involve all the children and staff in our work towards the Dementia Friendly Schools Award.  The children and staff have a good understanding of what it’s like to live with dementia and are keen to support family members and the local community in whatever way they can.  “Most importantly, the children are respectful and understanding towards people with dementia:’

Special Meaning

Carl Roberts is Chairman of the Billericay Dementia Action Alliance and Customer Relationship Manager at Anisha Grange Care Home in Billericay, and Hutton View Care Home in Brentwood.

Carl said: “It was an absolute pleasure to present the first Billericay Dementia Friendly Schools Award to Buttsbury Junior School.  To be able to award this during the pandemic also gives it a special meaning when we consider the number of carers and residents living with dementia who have been isolated during this time.
Teaching the younger generations about dementia and raising awareness within the school will serve to create a truly dementia friendly Billericay for many years to come.

“Part of the stigma around dementia is the fear of the unknown and with these pupils fully committed to at least two years’ worth of work to increase that understanding and raise awareness across the primary schools in Billericay, it will help to remove the stigma and create positivity for changing the way we view dementia:

"For further information about the Billericay Dementia Action Alliance or become a member email: Carl.Roberts@hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk.