ONE man is on a mission to help Bridgwater become a dementia-friendly town and will be hosting a number of events for next months Dementia Awareness Week.

John Hardy set up the Bridgwater Dementia Awareness Alliance in July 2014, and is working tirelessly to try and create a network of dementia-friendly businesses and organisations in the town.

"I started the Dementia Awareness Alliance in July 2014 while I was president of the Rotary. Soon after I lost my sight which left me unable to work in care anymore, and unable to drive," Mr Hardy said.

"Helping promote the alliance was something I felt passionately about, and gave me something to do - I more or less do this full time now."

Mr Hardy started out by producing leaflets and written material and walking round 150 Bridgwater businesses, starting to establish a network and raise awareness of what small things businesses can do to help.

"There is such a growing need for services for people with dementia. I do not see any way we will be able to provide enough care home places to keep up with the number of people who are going to be affected by this and will put extra pressure on our already stretched services," John said.

He says the alliance is not only there to support those living with dementia, but also those loved ones indirectly affected.

"A lot of work is also done to try and remove the negativity that surrounds dementia, we want people to see the person not just the disease," Mr Hardy said.

"The next step we took was to set up a website, and we have been running courses so that businesses could become dementia friendly, and have their own dementia champions who can teach the course to others and spread the word.

"In Bridgwater we are already working closely with EDF, Angel Place and Barclays to name a few."

The alliance has been working with the bank, not only to make sure those who come into the bank can be helped but that they are protected at home.

"We have also been working with trading standards and banks because people living with dementia are targeted by scammers - we want the banks to be aware if large sums of money suddenly start coming out of bank accounts of vulnerable people," Mr Hardy said.

Polly Donoghue, who works in the Bridgwater branch of Barclays has trained as dementia champion and has been passing on the lessons to the Taunton and Wellington branches.

There will be a Bridgwater Dementia Conference being held at the Bridgwater and Albion Rugby Club on Monday, May 15 with a number of presentations and exhibits.

For more information, email hardy.benjamin@sky.com or ring 01278 256078.