More than 70 people from St Albans and Harpenden joined together to change thousands of lives at an event to make the community more dementia-friendly.

On February 6, visitors gathered at Old Albanian Rugby Club, St Albans, to gain a greater understanding of how people living with dementia and their carers may feel in day to day situations.

The session also helped people to recognise and respond to the needs of people living with dementia and to understand how small individual actions can make a difference and support a Dementia Friendly Community.

Fiona Harrall, Dementia Champion said: "The Dementia Friends session in St Albans was fantastic and the feedback really positive. It gives me such satisfaction to help people to understand what it is like to live well with Dementia and to encourage those people to become a Dementia Friend."

The event was also joined by GPs, patients, carers, healthcare professionals and representatives from the voluntary sector arranged by Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group in partnership with the St Albans and District Dementia Alliance which includes St Albans District Council, Alzheimer’s Society and Hertfordshire County Council.

Attendees were welcomed by Dr Jill Barlett, who is a local GP and Chair of the St Albans and Harpenden Locality.

She introduced the concept of Dementia Friendly Communities which are currently being piloted in Marshalswick, St Albans and Southdown, Harpenden.