Dementia awareness services in Peasedown St John have received a boost, thanks to the Radstock & Midsomer Norton Lions Club.

The organisation, which has members living in Peasedown, wanted to show its support for the work being done to raise awareness of dementia across the community.

Lions President Colin Marsh and club members Margaret Burdon and Sarah Oughton met up with Gavin Heathcote and Cllr Karen Walker to congratulate them on the £100 grant.

Gavin and Karen are Directors of the Peasedown Community Trust, which runs the Dementia Friendly Peasedown initiative.

Lions President, Colin Marsh, said: "Dementia affects us all at some point in our lives, whether directly or indirectly. There are currently 800,000 people across the UK living with the condition, and that number is set to rise to 2 million by 2050. If you are over 80, there is a 1 in 6 chance you'll be diagnosed with dementia, and a 33% chance if you're over 90."

Over the last two years, more than 100 residents have attended a Dementia Friendly Peasedown workshop, giving villagers the opportunity to find out more about the condition and how we can support those living with it.

Trust Chairman, Gavin Heathcote, said: "We've been running events and workshops on a shoestring budget since we started. We've had some local businesses supporting our printing costs and other admin expenses, but we've really struggled without a budget of our own."

As well as dementia-awareness workshops, the group was also instrumental in designing and creating Peasedown's dementia-friendly sensory garden, which opened last autumn.

Cllr Karen Walker added: "Our dementia-friendly garden is great. It's a quiet place where anyone can sit, relax and watch the world go by. Because of its bright colours, flowers and wide paths it helps to create a comfortable atmosphere for those that visit."

The funding from Radstock & Midsomer Norton Lions Club will go towards new dementia-awareness activities, venue hire costs and new literature next year.

For more information about Dementia Friendly Peasedown email [email protected]