THE campaign to improve the lives of people with dementia, and their carers and families, in Crediton is celebrating its first anniversary this week.

To mark the occasion the Crediton Dementia Action Alliance (CDAA) – which aims to work towards the town becoming a dementia-friendly community – will hold a special ‘One Year On’ free public event and information fair next Friday evening (19 September).

Dr Elizabeth Saunders, of Newcombes Surgery, will give the keynote speech on diagnosing dementia, and Alliance members will report back on their activities over the year.

Chairman Brian Shillingford will provide an overview of achievements, while Linda Brown and Pauline Thomas will talk about the successes of the weekly Crediton Station Tea Rooms memory cafe.

Marion Pollinger, a volunteer Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia Friends Champion, who recently won the Alzheimer’s Society William Brooks Award for her outstanding achievements, will speak about the 60 dementia awareness sessions that she has held in Crediton and surrounding villages for businesses and the public. (Marion will hold another dementia awareness session at the Boniface Centre in Crediton from 6pm to 8pm on Tuesday 30 September.)

Representatives from Age Concern and Upstream will explain their contributions, and there will even be a chance for some communal singing in a Let’s Sing Together session. Solicitor Philip Kay will talk about the importance of making wills and setting up powers of attorney in advance.

The ‘One Year On’ event and information fair will take place between 5.30pm and 9pm on Friday 19 September at the Boniface Centre, Church Lane, Crediton EX17 2AH. Free light refreshments will be available throughout the evening.

CDAA is made up of a number of organisations working in partnership, including: the Crediton & District branch of Devon Senior Voice, Crediton’s two Rotary Clubs, the Alzheimer’s Society, Age Concern, Upstream and business and community groups.