All-female Welsh choir, Angelicus Celtis have recently shown their support for people affected by dementia and become Dementia Friends. The schoolgirls from Llanelli, South West Wales who have made it to the Semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent were all made Dementia Friends as it was revealed that many members of the choral group have personal experience of the condition and their grandparents received direct support from Alzheimer’s Society Cymru.
Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Friends programme is the biggest ever initiative to change people’s perceptions of dementia. It aims to transform the way the nation thinks, talks and acts about the condition. It was launched to tackle the stigma and lack of understanding that means many people with the condition experience loneliness and social exclusion. There are nearly 70,000 Dementia Friends in Wales.
Director of Angelicus Celtis, Jeremy Williams, said: “Angelicus Celtis, the everyday schoolgirls from South Wales who have reached the LIVE Semi-Finals of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent are proud to support Alzheimer’s Society and became Dementia Friends last weekend.”
Of the 17 choristers aged 12 and up making up Angelicus Celtis, five have grandparents who are living with Alzheimer’s Disease.
“The wonderful work of the Alzheimer’s Society is very close to our hearts with many of our grandparents living with Alzheimer’s but also directly benefiting from the services provided by the Society.”
Chella Borde, Dementia Friends lead for Alzheimer’s Society Cymru added;
“It’s wonderful news that Angelicus Celtis have recently become Dementia Friends resulting from the support received from Alzheimer’s Society Cymru at our Day Centre in Ty Perthyn in Ammanford.
“Dementia doesn’t care who you are; it could affect us all. Someone develops the condition every three minutes, and there’s currently no cure. People with dementia often feel – and are – misunderstood, marginalised and isolated. And that means that they’re less likely to be able to live independently in their own communities.
“A Dementia Friend learns a little bit more about what it’s like to live with dementia and then turns that understanding into action – anyone of any age can be a Dementia Friend.”
If you would like to become a Dementia Friend or for more information visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk
