New £1m project launched to help Scots with dementia

A new Scottish Government funded project to help improve support for people living with dementia has been launched.

Over the next two years, £1m will go towards addressing challenges faced by those affected and their families who will also be given a bigger say on how it should be spent.

The funding was announced by the Government which will work with Age Scotland in delivering it.

Brian Sloan, chief executive of Age Scotland, said: “This pandemic has compounded challenges faced by people living with dementia and their unpaid carers.

“This funding will help address some of these challenges by shaping communities that work for those who have lived experience of dementia.”

The Scottish Government said the coronavirus pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on people with dementia, and through the partnership it will help grow the community support that has been considered critical to people and their families.

Mr Sloan said: “Our role is to bring the voices of carers and people living with dementia to the forefront as plans are developed, ensuring those voices are heard at every stage of the design and delivery process.

“By doing so, we can build communities that truly support and empower people living with dementia and those who care for them.”

The initial spend will be focused on building community capacity with a small grant programme, the Scottish Government said, with a broader community grant offered in the second year.

The funding is part of the Holyrood government’s £120m mental health recovery and renewal fund.

Kevin Stewart, Scotland’s social care minister, said: “Covid-19 has impacted all of us but I know just how challenging it has been for people living with dementia, their families and carers.

“Trying to reduce this impact is the basis of our Dementia and Covid Action Plan, which we have worked with a wide range of partners to implement, since its publication in December 2020.

“There is a lot of positive work to point to, and the pandemic has particularly highlighted the importance of community-led work, responding to local need. I want to build on this work and enable more local people and communities to design and shape the support they need.”