Townsend School has joined Alzheimer’s Society and Public Health England in calling on schools across the region to help create a dementia friendly generation.

Twenty students at the Church of England school in High Oaks made a key step towards reducing the stigma that results in many people with dementia experiencing loneliness and social exclusion by becoming Dementia Friends on Thursday.

A Dementia Friend is someone who has gained a basic understanding about what it is like to have dementia and the small ways they can support someone living with the condition.

With over two million people expected to develop dementia in the next ten years, it is likely the majority of today’s under-18-year-olds will experience the condition in their lifetime.

As part of their call, Alzheimer’s Society and Public Health England have released results of the first ever poll of young people’s attitudes to dementia, which reveal that around a third (31 per cent) of young people would feel uncomfortable talking to someone with dementia.

However, more than half (55 per cent) believe that if people understood more about the condition, life would improve for those affected.

Haidan Smith, Head Boy at Townsend School who took part in the session on Thursday, said: "I think it would be very easy for people of my age to think that dementia isn’t something that we need to think about.

"But the reality is that, if it doesn’t already, dementia is likely to touch most of us at some point will know someone with dementia.

"I’m really glad that Townsend School has been running Dementia Friends sessions and I would encourage other schools to follow suit. We can be part of the first dementia friendly generation."

Gayl Staines, Alzheimer’s society operations manager for Hertfordshire, said: "Young people hold the key to what our society looks like in the future and we want it to be a dementia friendly one.

"The young people who learn more about dementia today are our future customer service managers, bus drivers, police officers, MPs and HR Directors who will have more patience with someone who seems confused, or can influence policies to better support people with dementia and carers.

"That’s why Alzheimer’s Society is urging all young people to become Dementia Friends and help beat the stigma that exists in our society today."

As part of the call for a dementia friendly generation, young people are also being encouraged to post a photo or write about a friendship memory on social media accounts, tag friends and encourage them to become a Dementia Friend using the hashtag #DementiaFriends.

Dementia Friends is a joint initiative with Public Health England funded by the Cabinet Office and Department of Health.

To find out more about Dementia Friends and the little things young people, parents, teachers and youth leaders can do to help visit www.alzheimers.org.uk/youngpeople