People living in Peasedown St John are being given another opportunity to find out more about dementia, thanks to a series of free information workshops.

To mark Dementia Action Week, Dementia Friendly Peasedown is organising a whole day of sessions for the public to sign up for.

Gavin Heathcote, Chairman of the Peasedown Community Trust (the local charity that runs the Dementia Friendly Peasedown initiative) said: "The facts about dementia are frightening. There are currently 850,000 in the UK living with the condition, and that figure is set to rise to 2 million by 2050.

" One in four people will be affected by dementia in their lifetimes, especially those diagnosed with clinical anxiety in middle age, which is why it's important to work with individuals and their families to try and make life much easier for those who have it.

"Furthermore, figures released by the Alzheimer's Society show that dementia was the most common pre-existing condition in those that have died from Covid. Of all the Covid deaths in England and Wales, 25% of those that sadly passed away had dementia."

Free, socially distant and Covid-compliment Dementia Friendly Workshops will be held at Peasedown Community Library on Tuesday May 18 at 9.30am, 11.30am and 1.30pm.

Operations Manager at the Library, Cllr Karen Walker, added: "The Trust wants to engage with as many people as possible over the next year and make them aware of dementia, and how we as a community can support those who live with it.

"As well as hosting these dementia information workshops at the library during Dementia Action Week, we'll be producing a new 'Guide to Dementia in Peasedown' booklet which will be delivered to every house in the village later this year."

To sign up for a free Dementia Awareness Workshop email the Community Trust at [email protected]. Spaces for the 18th May 'Dementia Friendly Tuesday' sessions will be allocated on a first come, first served bases.

Peasedown Community Library is located at The Hive Community Centre (formerly the Youth Centre), Bath Road, Peasedown St John, BA2 8DH.