THE first Dementia Awareness Toolbox Training session delivered to Wellington Town Council took place on Wednesday, October 22.

Hosted by Reminiscence Learning, a Wellington-based charity, the session was held at the council’s offices on High Street.

It covered the signs and symptoms of dementia, how to recognise them within the community, and ways to adapt local services to better support those living with dementia and their carers.

The aim of these sessions is to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and empower communities with the knowledge and tools needed to make a real difference.

The training session was led by Shane Mace, Reminiscence Learning’s activities manager, and Claire Louise Care, the charity’s community engagement coordinator.

Wasif Choudhury, democratic services and finance officer at Wellington Town Council, said: “The training gave me a completely different perspective on what it means to live with dementia. It wasn’t just informative, it was human.

“I now feel more confident in how I can support individuals living with dementia, and I’m proud that Wellington is taking active steps to become a more inclusive and understanding town.”

Rebecca Hunt, project assistant at Wellington Town Council, said: “Reminiscence Learning’s Dementia Awareness Training was incredibly useful to our whole team, highlighting the ways that we can help Wellington towards becoming a dementia inclusive community.

“The training was informative and the knowledgeable Claire and Shane were able to answer any questions we had. Our front-of-house staff on reception and the open spaces team now feel confident interacting with people who may have dementia and have the tools they need to further help the community.”

The Dementia Toolbox training is available both online and in person, supporting local businesses and organisations to join Reminiscence Learning’s Dementia Inclusive Initiative.

The next training session will take place online on Friday, November 14.

Wellington is on course to become the first Dementia Inclusive town in the Southwest, thanks to a significant £279,788 grant from the National Lottery Reaching Communities Fund, which will help drive this ambitious three-year project forward.

Fiona Mahoney, CEO of Reminiscence Learning, said:“Businesses can play a vital role in supporting their community and those living with dementia.

“Together, we can build a kinder, more compassionate and understanding community. This is a wonderful opportunity to reduce stigma, raise awareness, and bring people together. We’d love everyone to join us on this journey.”

In addition to training, Reminiscence Learning runs a variety of community sessions in Wellington and surrounding areas, including respite activity sessions at their Wellington hub and art sessions with Bodley Arts.

They also run a ‘Funday Friday’ event in Rockwell Green, ‘Together in Sport’ in partnership with Somerset County Cricket Club and host a memory activities café, alongside Wivey Cares in Wiveliscombe.

The charity hold a community session at the Kings Arms Community Hub on Tuesday afternoons and also offer one to one support session at the Kings Arms Community Hub every Thursday from 9am to 1pm.

This drop-in service provides support and signposting for anyone seeking guidance on their dementia journey.