VALE of Clwyd residents are being asked to help out with an initiative that is the first in the region.

Denbigh has been chosen as the first community in North Wales to help shape the future of dementia care.

The new, innovative Denbigh Community Listening Campaign aims to bring the regional dementia groups together with local residents, to share stories about the community and what is important to help to shape how local people with dementia are cared for.

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Putting local people at the centre of the discussion around dementia care, along with support from Improvement Cymru and Citizens UK, the Denbigh Community Listening Campaign aims for local people to co-produce a plan for how support should be tailored for residents of Denbigh, to ensure people with dementia have the best possible experience of living in their own home and participating in community life.

From local councillors, community volunteers and activity group leaders to shop owners and third sector representatives, community leaders will take a leading role in getting the conversation started across Denbigh.

Through talking and listening to people in Denbigh, stories will be collected about what it’s like to live in the area and the current dementia support, to establish a vision for the future representing the whole community’s view.

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In light of this new initiative, a day of activities has been arranged at Eirianfa, Denbigh on Tuesday, March 28 (9.30am–2.30pm).

People living with dementia will share their experiences, while Denbighshire Leisure will provide a session on chair exercises and Denbighshire Music Co-operative will be on hand with music therapy.

Michaela Morris, service improvement manager for mental health at Improvement Cymru, said: “We know that the best dementia care is personalised to the individual needs of a person living with dementia.

"We want to take that principle and tailor dementia care to the communities that they are embedded into.

"Nobody knows what Denbigh needs better than its residents, so we want the community to play a central role in developing the blueprint for local dementia care and support moving forward.”

Residents of Denbigh can also get involved by becoming active listening volunteers and by completing a short questionnaire, the results of which will be fed back to Improvement Cymru.

Questionnaires can be accessed online at www.northwalescollaborative.wales

Collection boxes will be placed in Denbigh Library for those who wish to complete and return hard copies.

The Denbigh Community Listening Campaign is part of a wider Wales Listens project being supported by Improvement Cymru and Citizens UK.

To find out more about the Denbigh Community Listening Campaign or to register interest in leading the conversation about dementia care for the Denbigh area, people can contact Eluned Yaxley, of the North Wales regional collaboration team, at eluned.yaxley@denbighshire.gov.uk or on 01824 712432.