Congratulations to Plume Academy on being awarded “Working to become a Dementia Friendly Community” accreditation for 2022/23.
A person is formally diagnosed with dementia around every three minutes in the UK, and it is also currently projected that over a third of us will live with dementia at some point during our respective lifetimes.
A dementia-friendly community is a service, place, city, town or village where people with dementia are understood, respected and supported.
In a dementia-friendly community people will be aware of and understand dementia, and work collectively so that people with dementia can continue to live in the way they want to and in the community they choose.
Dementia-friendly communities are vital in helping people live with dementia as best as they possibly can whilst very much remaining a part of their own family and community.
Plume Academy have been working closely with the Alzheimer’s Society and the Maldon Dementia Action Alliance to identify how the school can support and improve the services people with dementia use in the Maldon District. The academy has supported Dementia Friends sessions for our students and promoted dementia inclusion in Maldon High St. The school have also promoted and supported the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Action Week.
Mark Neville (Dementia Friendly Communities Coordinator for the Alzheimer’s Society) stated:
“Congratulations to everyone involved in being accredited as a Dementia Friendly Community school. This annual award is given based upon what the school have achieved and what it is planning to do going forward. Plume Academy is part of a really important partnership and exciting journey, the aim of which is to ensure that Maldon residents living with dementia have the best and fullest lives possible”.
Sarah Troop (Maldon District Dementia Action Alliance Chair and Maldon and District CVS Director) added:
“Plume Academy have put together a Dementia Friendly Communities action plan, which is regularly revised, checked and updated. We are really pleased to award Plume Academy with the accreditation. Students and teachers there have been really engaged and interested in learning about how we can all support people to live well with dementia and have worked hard to develop a meaningful plan that will continue to educate our young people on the challenges people face”.
Maldon Councillor Carlie Mayes (Maldon District Dementia Action Alliance Deputy Chair and Chairman Central Planning) stated:
“as an “alumina” parent of Plume Academy, as well as district Councillor, I am delighted that Plume Academy have gained this accreditation. It reflects the hard work and commitment the academy has towards all communities across the District especially those who face, or may face in the future, living with dementia. The drive that students, teachers, staff and parents have is to be commended and I look forward to seeing their future aspirations coming to fruition”.
If you would like to be involved or know more about the Maldon Dementia Friendly Community, please contact Sarah Troop via: sarah@maldoncvs.org.uk. If you would like a copy of the plan please contact Chris Barton via: C.Barton@plume.essex.sch.uk.