DEMENTIA experts are encouraging small acts of kindness in people to increase the knowledge people have about the illness.

Workshops are being run at Coombe End Court in Marlborough throughout the week (May 21 – 27) to provide an insight into the illness that impacts on the lives of both sufferers and carers.

From singing to gardening all types of sessions will be running to show how activities can help people with dementia feel part of society.

There are approximately 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, a number that is set to rise to one million by 2025.

Alzheimer’s Friends has been set up by Alzheimer’s Society to help people and companies learn about living with dementia.

OSJCT’s head of volunteering, Kit Lendon is encouraging the community to sign up to Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends, which is a programme designed to encourage others to learn a little bit about dementia, and transform the way the nation thinks, acts and talks about the condition.

Ms Lendon said: “Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends is a fantastic initiative which we offer all our volunteers so they understand what it’s like to live with dementia. Spreading the word is vital to creating dementia friendly communities."