BUSINESSES, an emergency service, musicians and councillors all pledged their support for people living with dementia in Lewes at the launch of the town’s Dementia Action Alliance.

There was an opening speech from Professor Sube Banerjee of the Centre for Dementia Studies and Associate Dean of Sussex University.

This was followed by a poetry performance from dot.collective theatre group members written at the Phoenix Centre in Lewes by people living with dementia set to music by Keith Ellis, from Moving Sounds.

Members of the Lewes and District DAA pledge to take three actions to improve their services for people with dementia.

From hosting or attending a Dementia Friends session to identifying areas that could be made more dementia friendly, the actions vary.

The launch comes after an Alzheimer’s Society report found that less than half of people living with dementia feel a part of the community and nearly three quarters of UK adults surveyed do not think society is geared up to deal with dementia.

The aim of the Dementia Action Alliance is to help create a community where people with dementia feel confident, understood and supported to live well.

Speaking at the launch, hosted by the Phoenix Centre with support from 3VA, Councillor Esther Watts, chair of the new group, said: “This event focused on what people with dementia can do, celebrating their art.

“People with dementia have a lot to offer and it’s vital they should still be able to enjoy our town, to get out and about and live well.

“Many people with dementia report feeling trapped in their own homes and let down by their communities, with one in three only getting out once a week.”