PEOPLE are being encouraged to give the gift of their time this Christmas and become a Dementia Friend.

North Yorkshire County Council is supporting the national campaign launched in May, which is an Alzheimer’s Society project with more than 400,000 volunteers from across the country.

Its aim is to give people an understanding of dementia and the small things that can be done to make a difference to people living with the condition.

County councillor Clare Wood, executive member in adult social care, said: “We were very keen to support Dementia Friends when the campaign was launched in the spring.

“In North Yorkshire we have an ageing population and more than 9,000 of our over 65s are living with dementia.

“Many more family members and friends will be affected through taking on caring responsibilities and most of us will know or care for someone with dementia.

“The efforts of people like Chris Riley make such a contribution to spreading the Dementia Friend message. Chris is a Dementia Champion and is actively training individuals to become Dementia Friends, and working with organisations to make them dementia friendly."

He uses music as responding to music is one of the last ones we lose and it is often used in dementia therapy sessions.

Mr Riley has just signed up his 600th Dementia Friend and is on target to meet his personal goal of signing 1,000 Dementia Friends by June next year.

People can find out how to sign up to become a Dementia Friend at www.dementiafriends.org.uk.