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Peterborough Dementia Action Alliance

UPDATE September 2023: Peterborough Dementia Action Alliance is no longer active. Please do not apply to join this DAA. If your organisation would like to become more dementia-friendly, please visit this page on Alzheimer’s Society’s website for more information.

Introduction:

The Peterborough Dementia Action Alliance (PDAA) is made up of a number of organisations committed to transforming the quality of life of people living with dementia in the UK and the millions of people who care for them.

Peterborough is officially recognised by Alzheimer's Society as a community working to become dementia-friendly.

There are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK and this number is set to grow to over one million people by 2025. The financial cost of dementia in the UK is £23 billion each year and growing.

Members of our PDAA have signed up to a National Dementia Declaration. Created in partnership with people with dementia and their carers, the Declaration explains the huge challenges presented to our society by dementia and some of the outcomes we are seeking to achieve for people with dementia and their carers. Outcomes range from ensuring people with dementia have choice and control over decisions about their lives, to feeling a valued part of family, community and civic life

Signatories to the Declaration have published their own Action Plans setting out what they each will do to secure these outcomes and improve the quality of life of people with dementia. Plans are regularly updated.

The PDAA works in tandem with the National Dementia Action Alliance and is funded through voluntary donations. The aims of the PDAA are agreed by members and people living with dementia and their carers who attend our sessions.

History:

Peterborough City Council set up a Dementia Steering Group in 2012. Membership included local voluntary sector organisations involved in supporting people with memory problems as well as Cambs clinical commissioning group and Cambs and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust who deliver the Memory Clinic in Peterborough.

The Council’s strategy for people with dementia and their carers included a commitment to making Peterborough a Dementia Friendly City. The Steering Group agreed that the best way to progress this initiative was to involve local businesses and develop a Local Action Alliance.

The Peterborough Local Dementia Action Alliance (PDAA) was launched in February 2014. Terms of reference were agreed and members shared action plans. The PDAA was chaired and administered by Rob Henchy, Peterborough City Council for the first year. It now has an elected chair from the membership and operates independently.

Development of dementia support services was a priority. The principal focus of the PDAA therefore was the development of the Dementia Resource Centre in Lincoln Road. This was opened in September 2014 and offers a wide range of support and services (details can be found on the final pages of the monthly newsletters).

General Aims:

The PDAA now aims to continue to work towards making Peterborough into a Dementia Friendly City where people living with dementia and their carers are able to live well, get the help they need in everyday life and continue to do things they enjoy doing.

Our objectives are:

To place people with dementia and their carers at the centre of PDAA, help them to live well.
To collectively take actions that contribute to people with dementia and their carers feeling like Peterborough is an enabling and supportive environment.
To collectively share knowledge and ideas on making Peterborough dementia friendly
To raise awareness and understanding of dementia and dementia support services through the Dementia Friends movement and other community events
To spread the word about the Alliance and encourage further organisations and businesses to join
To identify and develop projects for members to collectively deliver
To fund raise on behalf of the Alliance to pay for dementia friendly initiatives
To develop a dementia friendly booklet that describes dementia friendly places and activities in and around Peterborough
To award members who have delivered against their action plans a “becoming dementia friendly” symbol

The Steering Group:

PDAA Steering Group meets at least four times a year. Meetings are inclusive and all members, new and existing, are welcome to attend. There will be an Annual Special General Meeting which it is hoped all members will attend. This meeting will report on progress through the year and formulate an up to date action plan for the coming year. Members will be given at least 4 weeks notice of meetings. Meetings will be held over the lunch time period to encourage as many members as possible to attend.

PDAA will normally seek to reach decisions by consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, actions may be approved by a majority of those members present. A quorum shall be two thirds of the Board at the time in question.

Key points and actions will be recorded in minutes and circulated to all members no later than 7 days after the meeting.

Achievements:

· The Dementia Resource Centre (DRC) is well established and offers a wide range of services

· Hairdressing facilities at the DRC have been funded by the PDAA

· A monthly Newsletter is produced and circulated to all members

· There are several Memory Cafes meeting at different places on a range of days

· A successful Santa Fun Run raised a significant amount of money and other donations have been received

· Many volunteers have become Dementia Champions and helped raise awareness by providing dementia friends sessions to communities in Peterborough

Ongoing Projects:

Identifying gaps in the membership grid
Developing an information pack
Engaging with further businesses and organisations, helping them to become more dementia friendly and encouraging them to join the PDAA - thereby increasing the scope of membership
Encouraging members to regularly review their action plans and amend as necessary
Continuing work with leisure and culture providers to maintain accessibility to people with dementia
Continue work with Peterborough City Hospital to ensure people with dementia and their carers receive good care during and after admission

Future Projects:

To appoint a webmaster to keep the PDAA entry up to date and check for compliance of member entries
To engage with schools/colleges to develop intergenerational understanding and create opportunities for support
To engage with transport providers to increase confidence in ability to travel
To engage with religious groups to reflect the multi-racial community
To develop a booklet highlighting dementia friendly places and activities in and around Peterborough

Contact:

To be part of the Peterborough Dementia Friendly Community or to receive more information please contact

Karon Walton (Chair) karon.walton@hegarty.co.uk

Alliance Members

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