Southend, Castle Point and Rochford Dementia Action Alliance

Supporting People Living With Dementia

The Southend Dementia Action Alliance (SDAA) was launched in March 2015 to help the Borough become a ‘Dementia-Friendly’ town, using a person-centred approach to support people from before diagnosis, throughout dementia and through to end of life care.

Southend on Sea Borough Council is committed to improving the lives of people living with dementia and their carers, and supporting people to live well with dementia.

Partnership working

Southend Borough Council are working in partnership with people living with Dementia and their carers, health services, GP’s and voluntary agencies to increase the diagnosis rates in the Borough, ensuring people receive the appropriate information and support at a time best for them to make decisions and access the services they need.

In June 2018, the Alliance was extended to include Castle Point and Rochford to enable smooth transition through Dementia Diagnosis pathways and to work together to provide new services within both Castle Point and Rochford, to enable to the community to build and grow to support those living with Dementia.

Southend, Castle Point and Rochford Dementia Action Alliance is a partnership of organisations, individuals, businesses and community groups working together to transform the quality of life for people living with dementia and their carers.

We feel the Southend, Castle Point and Rochford Dementia Action Alliance will bring people living with dementia, their carers, services and organisations together to enable people to live well with dementia.

What does a Dementia Action Alliance do?

Locally, businesses, services and community groups are working in partnership with Southend Borough Council to make Southend-on-Sea a ‘Dementia Friendly’ town, where people affected by dementia feel confident knowing they can live their lives with access to the services and support they need to fully participate in community life.

Each alliance member produces an Action Plan to bring about improvements for anyone affected by dementia that they are directly or indirectly in contact with. All members have also introduced the dementia friends initiative into their workplace and created thousands of dementia friends throughout Southend.

Members of the SDAA

Any business/ organisation within the Boroughs, no matter how small, can become a member.

There is a diverse and ever increasing range of members that include London Southend Airport, local churches, Southend United, Pall Mall GP Surgery, Waitrose and many more….. All are committed to supporting people with dementia.

A full list of Southend, Castle Point and Rochford Dementia Action Alliance members can be found on the central Dementia Action Alliance website.

Dementia Friendly Communities

We are very proud to announce that Southend has achieved ‘Working towards becoming a Dementia Friendly Community’ status.   A dementia friendly community is described as a city, town or village where people with dementia are understood, respected, supported and confident they can contribute to community life. The status has been awarded thanks to the partnership work of the Southend Dementia Action Alliance (SDAA) and the Dementia Friends Initiative.

What is a Dementia Friend?

The Dementia Friends initiative aims to make everyday life better for people with dementia by changing the way people think, talk and act.  It is about giving more people an understanding of dementia and the small things that could make a difference to people living with dementia in the community.

A dementia friend learns a little bit more about what it’s like to live with dementia and then turns that understanding into action.

We have over 5000 dementia friends in Southend but we would like to see even more people wearing their little blue badge.

If you would like to become a dementia friend or would like more information about services for people living with dementia and their carers, please contact Cassie Searle, Southend Dementia Action Alliance Co-ordinator by email: cassiesearle@southend.gov.uk or call 01702 534772