CHURCHES throughout Dorset are signing up to become “dementia friendly”.

The Wessex Churches Dementia Alliance was launched on Saturday against the backdrop of rising numbers of people suffering from dementia.

Members of the alliance will sign up to become Dementia Friendly Churches.

Jeff Russell, chairman of the alliance, said: “Churches continue to be key centres of community life for their members. Given current and projected increase in people with dementia living in the community it is critical for churches to examine how they can respond.”

The launch of the alliance was taking place at Longfleet Baptist Church, Poole, during a conference called Supporting People with Dementia – A Chrisian Perspective.

The alliance is part of a national campaign that has been joined by over 150 national companies and organisations.

Every local alliance signs up to the National Dementia Declaration, which sets out seven basic rights for those with dementia, and which the members pledge to protect. These include the right for personal choice, understanding and support, among others.

Jo Malyon, support services manager at Alzheimer’s Society for Dorset, said: “This alliance is vital across Dorset, where we have over 5,000 people living with dementia which is set to rise dramatically over the next decade.

“We simply want to aid understanding of dementia and how it can affect those with it as well as their loved ones. We can all help to create a better environment for those with these conditions, and we hope more and more people will want to get involved’