A PRIMARY from Pontypool has become the first school in the region to be awarded dementia friendly status from the Alzheimer's Society.

More than 400 pupils and staff from Griffithstown Primary School have completed awareness training and have become 'Dementia Friends' by learning about dementia and what life is like for people living with condition.

Pupils visited County Hospital to perform songs for people living with the condition and supported a new project called Shimmer Zimmers.

The pupils helped decorate the zimmer frames with colourful materials to help people with dementia recognise their own and use it more often.

Younger children have also been reading The Elephant That Forgot which aims to help them understand dementia from a young age.

Head boy Rowan Harris said: “Through the training we know what to do when we meet someone with dementia and how we can help them.

"We are proud of what we have achieved and it has helped us to become more involved with the community.”

Head girl Ella Davies said: “I enjoyed meeting people with dementia and being able to cheer them up, and make them feel happier.”

Cllr Many Owen, executive member for children and young people, and Torfaen’s dementia champion said: “I am really proud with what the children here at Griffithstown Primary School have achieved. All the children in the school have played their part, and we hope that more schools in Torfaen will take on the challenge and become dementia friends.”

The award was presented to the school by Torfaen Lynne Neagle AM who chairs the cross party dementia group at the Senedd.

She said: “I was incredibly proud to present Griffithstown Primary School with their Dementia Friendly Award. Being the first primary school in Gwent and one of the very first schools in Wales to achieve it is fantastic, and I congratulate all the pupils and staff on their achievement.

“I have invited the school to visit the Senedd to talk about their work so that other AMs can see what great work is going on to make Torfaen dementia friendly.”

Torfaen was one of the first areas to be accredited as a Dementia County and its library service, tourist attractions such as Greenmeadow Community Farm and Big Pit, as well as many traders and businesses across the borough have become Dementia Friends.

For more details, contact phil.diamond@torfaen.gov.uk.