CHILDREN in Year 4 at Halcon Community Primary School, Taunton, dressed as scarecrows as part of the Archie Project dementia awareness.

Halcon is among eight Taunton Deane schools having dementia awareness training, with the latest event linked to Lavender Court care home and including an interactive assembly led by the Reminiscence Learning charity, which introduced the scarecrow mascot Archie.

Somerset County Gazette:

Some of the children were then invited to a scarecrow parade at Lavender Court, attended by Taunton Deane Mayor Dave Durdan, while others heard a story about Archie, who has Alzheimer’s.

Residents at Lavender enjoyed meeting the children and took part in dancing and singing.

Somerset County Gazette:

Fiona Mahoney, of Reminiscence Learning, said: “All the children spoke positively about the project.

“The story is simple and easy to understand by both children and adults and helps to reduce the stigma and fear often associated with a dementia and is helping to achieve the ultimate aim of making Taunton dementia friendly.”

She added: “These intergenerational activities will be continuing weekly with schoolchildren and the residents/sheltered housing tenants and there will be a chance to take part in cooking, gardening, art, lunches, storytelling and life story sessions.”

Somerset County Gazette:

There are currently 20 schools taking part in the Archie Project across Somerset.

There is still an opportunity for one more primary school to become involved in the fully funded project – for more information contact Fiona Mahoney at Reminiscence Learning on 01823-323752 or e-mail fiona@reminiscencelearning.co.uk

Somerset County Gazette: