Volunteers aim to connect with Hillingdon Alzheimer's sufferers (From Hillingdon Times)

Volunteers aim to connect with Hillingdon Alzheimer's sufferers

8:53am Thursday 7th February 2013 in Local News By Nick Tunney

HILLINGDON has been picked out in a volunteer scheme that raises awareness of Alzheimer’s Disease.

The Connecting Communities pilot project, which has been awarded a grant of £599,000 by the Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund, launched across London last month, and over the next three years will focus on supporting people with dementia.

More than 2,600 people with dementia live in Hillingdon and the borough volunteers will work to improve understanding of the condition and ensure those living in different cultural communities in eborough have access to the support they need.

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “There are more than 11,500 people with dementia from black and minority ethnic groups in the UK but many struggle to access services.

“This award will enable us to help people in these harder-to-reach communities get the support and information they need to live well with the condition.

“Through the funding, our volunteers will make a real difference to people's lives.”