Newport County AFC is proud to be the Football League Club in Wales who are working towards becoming dementia-friendly.
Partners and organisations from Newport have been working towards becoming dementia-friendly for the last two years and the Public Service Board, which includes Newport City Council, Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Gwent Police and South Wales Fire Service, have been working alongside local businesses to support people living with dementia.
Newport County AFC is proud to be one of these organisations who have achieved dementia-friendly status and we will be celebrating this achievement at half time on Saturday during our match vs Yeovil Town.
The Club will also be supporting Alzheimer's Society with a bucket collection around the ground.
If you have any questions about Alzheimer's or Dementia-Friendly, you can come and meet members of the Disabled Supporters Association (DSA) and Alzheimer's Society in Marquee where an information point will be located at the Bisley Stand end.
Kerry Phelps, Alzheimer’s Society Cymru’s Operations Manager for Gwent, said: “There are 2,000 people living with dementia in Newport. Creating a dementia-friendly city will help to reduce stigma and make people feel confident, understood and supported to remain as a valuable member of society.
“It is great to hear of the positive work happening at Newport County AFC. They are setting a high standard that I hope other teams will follow across the country."
As well as the Club's efforts in ensuring staff have completed Dementia-Friendly training, the DSA have put in an amazing effort to drive the Club towards achieving Dementia Friendly Status.
Colin Faulkner, Chairman of the DSA, said: “We hope to create an environment that enables supporters with dementia to continue attending games at County.
“We want to reach out to those with dementia who have stopped coming and help them to rediscover the sport they once loved to watch and hope that over the next year all Directors, staff, volunteers at the club will have attended a Dementia Friends awareness session to ensure the best match day experience possible."
Colin also mentioned the fantastic efforts of County in the Community's Norman Parselle who's become a Dementia-Friendly Champion, meaning he can deliver dementia-friendly sessions.
Colin said: "In Norman Parselle, we have a Champion who has a passion for the subject and who is greatly respected and admired at the club, he will be delivering the sessions which hope will include the next generation of players in the Academy.”
Newport West's AM Jayne Bryant has also been among those pushing to make the city of Newport more dementia-friendly and commented: “I’m really proud that Newport County AFC have received their Dementia Friendly award; the first football league club in Wales to have completed this level of awareness.
"It’s a real boost to see Newport County AFC receiving the award, not only to raise awareness about dementia but also to ensure that the Club cares and welcomes those with dementia to the games. It is another crucial step towards Newport becoming a Dementia Friendly City.”
For more information on the Newport Dementia Friendly Community, please contact Ian Thomas, ian.thomas@alzheimers.org.uk
DON'T MISS THE MATCH
GET TICKETS FOR
NEWPORT COUNTY AFC VS YEOVIL TOWN FC
NOW