The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) said it will be holding a series of virtual awareness sessions on dementia for local shops in January.
The initiative in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society aims to create more Dementia Friends in the convenience sector. The trade body has earlier conducted online awareness sessions in August and September.
“We are delighted to be working with Alzheimer’s Society to offer these virtual awareness sessions for the convenience sector and the sessions that we ran earlier in the year were very well-received and gave colleagues practical advice on how they can help people visiting their stores,” commented James Lowman, ACS chief executive.
“We’re living in unprecedented times and it’s important to remember that there may be some customers who may need some additional assistance when visiting your store. The sessions will provide key information on how you can support your customers and colleagues living with and affected by dementia.”
The ACS has launched a campaign at the start of this year to create 25,000 Dementia Friends in the sector to help convenience retailers better understand and support customers living with dementia.
Colleagues who complete the online sessions will receive a Dementia Friends badge which can be worn to encourage customers living with dementia to approach them if they are in need of assistance.
The sessions are free for ACS members to attend and will take place on:
- Tuesday 19 January: 4pm – 5pm
- Thursday 21 January: 10am – 11am
- Wednesday 27 January: 12pm – 1pm
- Friday 29 January: 4pm to 5pm
Colleagues can also become Dementia Friends by visiting dementiafriends.org.uk/dforganisations and entering campaign code ‘ACS25’ before watching the short videos.
For more information about the virtual awareness sessions and to register your interest, please email steve.dowling@acs.org.uk.
