VOLUNTEER Police Cadets and their leaders have become Dementia Friends to make others aware of the condition.

North Yorkshire Police has signed up to the scheme to help officers, staff and volunteers become more dementia aware as part of the Alzheimer’s Society nationwide initiative.

Twenty cadets took part in a presentation where they learned key facts about the illness, performed tasks and were asked to consider how they could turn their understanding into action in the community.

Sergeant Yvonne Taylor, who is a dementia champion at North Yorkshire Police, delivered the session at a cadet training night held at Askham Bryan College earlier this month.

She said: “Being able to recognise the signs of dementia is very important when we are interacting with members of the public and working to keep them safe.

“It’s great that we can spread this awareness to younger members of the force and the wider community through our Volunteer Police Cadet scheme.

"Our cadets are a fantastic bunch of enthusiastic young people who embraced the course and were a pleasure to work with.

"I look forward to hearing about how they’ve put their knowledge into practice.”

Elliot Jackson, a Volunteer Police Cadet (VPC), said: “It has completely changed my perception of dementia and widened my understanding of the issues.”

VPC Katarzyna Berdys added: “The input was definitely eye-opening, I am much more aware of dementia now.”

The Alzheimer’s Society’s goal is to make four million people Dementia Friends by the year 2020 to help vulnerable people.

For more information about the scheme visit www.dementiafriends.org.uk