Kind-hearted Marlovians have come together to help make the town more dementia friendly.

Members of the Marlow Bridge Rotary Club this week launched a scheme to create a more dementia-friendly community as part of an Alzheimer’s Society programme.

The Marlow Bridge Rotary Club Dementia Friendly Committee, chaired by Paul Bolton and Shila Odedra-Silvera, are looking for stakeholders to work with them.

Mr Bolton said: “Dementia Friendly Communities is a programme by Alzheimer’s Society which helps to create the creation of dementia-friendly communities across the UK.

“Everyone, from governments and health boards to supermarkets, estate agents, restaurants, the local corner shop and hairdresser all share part of the responsibility for ensuring that people living with dementia feel understood, valued and able to contribute to their community, and their loved ones and carers do not feel they have to struggle alone.”

The Rotary club said it will not be just a Rotary project going ahead, with Mr Bolton adding: “We are the catalyst to get the project going and then see where Making Marlow a Dementia Friendly Community can be taken by the various agreed stakeholders in the future.”

The committee aims to bring together Marlovians to make a difference to those living with dementia, engaging in awareness-raising activities and education and ensuring there is a “strong voice” for residents living with the chronic condition.

Ms Odedra-Silvera said: “As an Alzheimer’s Society dementia champion, and through my work at Sunrise Senior Living, I know that even simply understanding what dementia is and what life might be like for those affected, either directly or as a carer, has a very positive impact. “Our goal is to make a difference.

“How much of a difference is largely dependent on how much help and support we gain from the people and businesses of Marlow.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support so far and can’t wait to see how much we achieve together.”

The project has also garnered the support of the town’s MP, Dominic Grieve.

Marlow Bridge Rotary Club president Lori Spragg said: “I was delighted that the Marlow Bridge Rotary Club Dementia Friendly meeting was packed full of representatives from local government and civil society who were overwhelmingly in support of our club’s initiative.

“There was a lively open discussion about how we can raise awareness of the needs of people living with dementia in our town and what practical steps we can take as a community to make Marlow a better place for them to live well.

“We agreed that is essential to include all local businesses and service providers in the project too as they can play a vital role in making Marlow a safe and pleasant place for people living with dementia to live and shop.”