Nominations Open for the Dementia Friendly Kent Awards

Are you making a difference for people living with dementia in Kent?

We want to recognise your work (or the work of someone you may know) at the 2023 Dementia Friendly Kent Awards.

The Awards Ceremony will be judged by people affected by dementia and will be taking place at the County Showground as part of a large-scale Kent Dementia Showcase event on 19th May 2023 - which will be open both to the general public and professionals working in the field.

The Dementia Friendly Kent Awards have been running since 2014 and are organised by the Kent Dementia Action Alliance in association with Kent County Council and, from this year, the NHS.

In previous years, the Dementia Friendly Kent Award winners included an array of individuals and organisations across the county.

Recognition has been given to the National Trust’s flagship property Knole for supporting visitors living with dementia; Castle Cars’ taxi drivers in Tonbridge were awarded for their dementia-friendly practices; Co-Op’s Sandwich store’s dementia customer care was judged to be second-to-none; and students at the Oasis Academy were celebrated for their warm welcome to local residents living with dementia on the Isle of Sheppey.

Oasis Academy’s Head of Community Hub, Paul Murray, said: "Winning a Dementia Friendly Kent award meant so much to our students. They love what they do and being recognised for this is such a bonus for them." 

Kent County Council’s Leader, Roger Gough, commented: "I am really looking forward to hearing about all the wonderful work being undertaken by so many across the county to improve the lives of those affected by dementia. This includes not only the work of colleagues working in health and social care but from across the wider community. Much work continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and this will be a great opportunity to celebrate those particular initiatives too."

Dr Afifa Qazi, Chief Medical Officer and Consultant Psychiatrist at Kent and Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), and award winner of the “Psychiatrist of the Year” for 2022 awarded by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, is leading the work across KMPT services to transform dementia care in Kent & Medway. Afifa said.

"Dementia Action Alliance works hard to create dementia friendly communities which should be a top priority for everyone across the county to participate in. We need every resident to have a greater understanding of dementia which is the leading cause of death in the UK and currently affects an estimated 24,609 residents in Kent & Medway. Initiatives such as the annual Dementia Friendly Kent Awards can play an important role in raising awareness about the condition as well as celebrating some fantastic initiatives in the county to support people with dementia and their loved ones."

However small or large, every action is helping us build a more dementia friendly county, so let us know about your great work!

To take part, complete a simple nomination form:
www.kent.gov.uk/dementiafriendlyawards

Deadline for entries is 31st January 2023.

If you need support making a written application, please email: dementiafriendlykent@kent.gov.uk

Notes:
Dementia Action Alliance brings together partners from across public, private and voluntary sectors and people living with dementia to raise awareness about the condition to help make our communities more dementia friendly.

The Dementia Friendly Kent Awards celebrate the great work being done each year by organisations and individuals to achieve this shared goal.