Age Concern Colchester & North East Essex
Age Concern Colchester and North East Essex improves the Health and Wellbeing of those in later years. We offer befriending, an advice service and friendship groups. We target reduction in poverty and combatting social isolation, education, information and support at emotionally distressing times for people in later years.

- Updated:
- 3 February 2021
- Location:
- East of England
- Sectors:
- Charity, Community organisations, Local DAA Members, Voluntary Sector
- Local Alliances:
- Tendring Dementia Action Alliance
1. Action Plan
1. The National Dementia Declaration lists seven outcomes that the DAA are seeking to achieve for people with dementia and their carers. How would you describe your organisation’s role in delivering better outcomes for people with dementia and their carers?
Age Concern Colchester and North East Essex aims to find suitable befriending companions, get financial, rehousing, care, health and mobility outcomes through our advice service and where appropriate an introduction to friendship groups.
To provide Dementia Awareness / Dementia Friend sessions To ensure all employees are Dementia Friends and offer this to all volunteers
2. What are the challenges to delivering these outcomes from the perspective of your organisation?
For befriending we need to find befrienders who are dementia aware or who are willing to undertake training so they know how to support. In terms of the advice service we make reasonable adjustments by pairing or working alongside family members. Some friendship groups are geared up to be able to support dementia at different stages so finding appropriate local groups.
Member website
https://www.ageconcerncolchester.org.uk/2. Actions
-
Internal Awareness Campaign
We will develop an internal plan for staff and volunteers to become dementia aware.
- Status:
- Completed
2020 - Third Quarter Update
All staff have now done the Dementia friends sessions
We have cascaded the sessions to volunteers and have delivered on line and face to face sessions to volunteers, carers, and businesses
We have developed and delivered bespoke training to Businesees
We have developed a 6 week course on Dementia and delivered it to carers and members of teh public
2020 - First Quarter Update
An initial dementia session has happened with the majority of staff.
Two of the team have been through training to deliver dementia friends sessions.
We are reviewing the process of cascading training to volunteers both in the field and in our centres.
-
Dementia-friendly Sessions in The Veranda
We will create at least one dementia-friendly session a week in The Veranda
- Status:
- Planning
2020 - Third Quarter Update
on hold due to covid- verandah being closed
-
Dementia Befriending
We will extend our befriending service to include volunteers who have an understanding of dementia of with people living with dementia.
We will offer dementia friends sessions and more bespoke training to help support
- Status:
- Completed
2020 - First Quarter Update
Dementia Befriending in Tendring and Colchester.
-
Dementia Support Hubb
Once a month a Dementia Hub is being held in Jaywick to support anyone who is affected by Dementis
- Status:
- Delivered
2020 - Third Quarter Update
held sessions over 3 months - August, September and October, November has been cancelled due to cov id lock down
-
Dementia Information and Support Sessions
We are offering a 6 week Dementia Information and Support Sessions to volunteers and carer-
- Status:
- Delivered
2020 - Third Quarter Update
First one delivered in September 20 , next one scheduled for October/November 2020
-
Enviroment
We will ensure that the venues we are in are dementia friendly- signage, information on dementia available, toilet seating , etc
- Status:
- Completed
2020 - Third Quarter Update
All signage is in place and dementia friendly, blue toilet seat and grab rails are in place. Notice Board with Dementia Information
-
Dedicated Dementia help line
Due to covid, age concern has implemented a dedicated dementia helpline, where anyone can call and spek to a Dementia advisor for support and guidance
- Status:
- Delivered