Cheshire East Council is celebrating after one of its pioneering projects was a finalist in the International Dementia Excellence Awards.
The awards are designed to recognise organisations and individuals who have worked to improve the quality of life of people with dementia through innovation and good practice.
DemenShare, a social networking facility dedicated to people whose lives are affected by dementia, was shortlisted for a national Design Innovation Award and although it wasn't a winner, the Council is delighted that a project which is in its very early stages has already been given national recognition.
Councillor Roland Domleo, Cabinet member with responsibility for adult services, said: "DemenShare enables people to come together online to discuss the ways in which dementia affects their lives and offers users the opportunity to share experiences and find out more about the support and services available.
"It is aimed at people whose lives are affected by dementia in a variety of ways including those with a diagnosis, their family, friends and carers, and health professionals.
"We did not win this award, but we are extremely proud to have been a finalist so soon after launching the project. It shows that our work is being recognised in a positive light."
Cheshire East is leading what is an exciting new way of helping all those affected by dementia and it is hoped it will make a positive impact on peoples' lives. The DemenShare partnership, comprising the Council, Age UK Cheshire, Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust and Opportunity Links, who built the technical infrastructure for the project, was selected from 32 others nationwide to receive a £136,000 Government grant to pilot the scheme.
The website can be found at www.demenshare.com.
Caption: (l-r) Diane Christopherson, Age UK Cheshire online community manager; Andrew Arditti, Cheshire East communications account manager; Mark Cheverton, Opportunity Links managing director; Professor June Andrews of Dementia Services Development Centre, University of Stirling; Jill Greenwood, Cheshire East Care4CE commissioning manager; Sue Benson, DemenShare project manager on Cheshire East and Ken Clemens of Age UK Cheshire.
