A Dementia Friends Champion is a volunteer who encourages others to make a positive difference to people living with dementia in their community. They do this by giving them information about the personal impact of dementia, and what they can do to help.

It’s easy to get involved. Dementia Friends Champions will attend a induction, receive support when they need it, and be part of over 10,500 volunteer Dementia Friends Champions creating dementia friendly communities together.

‘Becoming a Dementia Friend Champion has undoubtedly been one of the most positive and exciting things I’ve done’ – Jane Gilby, Dementia Friends Champion

You don’t need to have any particular experience or skillset to be a Dementia Friends Champion, but you do need to understand what’s involved so please read the rest of the information in this section carefully.

Become a Dementia Friends Champion by attending a whole day volunteer induction session. You’ll see a Dementia Friends Information Session delivered by a Dementia Friends Officer and then learn how to deliver the session yourself with the chance to discuss the activities and our key messages, before taking part in a practice presentation. Tea and coffee will be provided but please bring your own lunch.

Once you have successfully completed a Champions induction you will have access to online resources and tools that will help you set up and run a Dementia Friends Information Session. You will receive support from your local Regional Support Officer (RSO), Reading Dementia Action Alliance, a monthly Champions e-newsletter, access to regional Facebook groups and webinars to attend.

You may not need to set up anything special to run a Dementia Friends Information Session. If you are already part of local networks, such as a book club or residents’ association, then you could organise a Friends Information Session at one of your meetings or among a group of friends or at work.

Here are some ideas from Dementia Friends Champions about where they will run their information sessions:

• Coffee mornings, lunch clubs, knitting groups and book clubs.
• Tenants’ associations and residents’ groups.
• Social clubs.
• WI, Round Table, British Legion.
• Students unions.
• Schools and sixth form colleges.
• Cubs, Scouts, Brownies and Guides groups.
• Workplaces.
• At their places of worship.

You must register or sign in as a Dementia Friends Champion before you can register your interest in the Champions’ induction.