A dementia project in the West Midlands is putting children at the heart of brain health education, equipping them to become dementia champions and positive advocates for their community.
Millions of families across the UK are affected by dementia every year, but its impact stretches far beyond the person diagnosed. For children, seeing a loved one change can be confusing and difficult to understand.
Brain Health Heroes, developed by community organisation Amba Care Solutions CIC and led by Dr Ruth Chauhan, has received £14,318 from the Dementia Trust Disruption Awards to develop a pioneering child friendly approach to brain health and dementia awareness, giving children the tools to understand dementia, talk about it openly and feel confident supporting the people around them.
Principally aimed at children in Years 5 and 9, the project brings dementia to life in an age appropriate way through storytelling, games, music, art and interactive activities, helping children understand what happens in the brain while seeing the person beyond the diagnosis.
St John Henry Newman Catholic School in Coventry has been an early supporter of Brain Health Heroes, facilitating regular visits to Mauricare Ashfield House Care Home. The visits have proved hugely impactful for both the children and their families, as well as the care home residents who are looking forward to sharing their experiences to ensure the programme is genuinely intergenerational and shaped by the people it aims to bring together.
Rhys Davies, Community Engagement Coordinator for St John Henry Newman Catholic School, said: “To be involved in this project is a great opportunity for our pupils to learn more about dementia and learn skills of how to approach it. Dementia affects a number of people and for our pupils it could be family members so to learn about it at a young level and develop skills in how to approach it will only prepare our young people well for the future.
“We also want pupils who show compassion and care for other people within their communities, by being involved in this project pupils will develop these skills and become well rounded individuals who look out for others. This is a great opportunity for our school.”
Dr Ruth Chauhan, said: “Brain Health Heroes has grown from a belief that we should never underestimate a child’s ability to understand and make a difference.
“My own experience has shown me just how important honest and sensitive conversations can be. When I began experiencing memory difficulties myself, I talked to my nine year old grandson about why I sometimes repeated questions or forgot plans we had made. His response was: ‘Don’t worry Granny, we’ll work it out together as we go along.’
“That really stayed with me and showed me that when children are given the opportunity to understand, their response can be one of compassion rather than fear.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Dementia Trust Disruption Awards which will allow us to develop creative resources and activities that can help children understand brain health and dementia in a way that is positive and engaging.
The Dementia Trust Disruption Awards is an annual initiative that backs life changing projects offering a fresh approach to supporting those living with dementia.
Dylan Harper, Chair at The Dementia Trust, said: “Brain Health Heroes is delivering exactly the sort of game changing work that we love to support at The Dementia Trust. Ruth and the team are challenging us all to think differently about where change can begin, and it makes perfect sense to give the next generation the best possible start when it comes to understanding dementia.
“By helping children understand dementia from an early age, we have an opportunity to challenge misconceptions before they even take hold and give them the confidence to talk about dementia with their families and communities. The potential impact of that is huge.”
The Dementia Trust is a UK-based charity that for nearly 40 years has improved the lives of people with dementia, their carers, and those who support them. To find out more, please visit: https://dementiatrust.org/
