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04

Jun 2021

Last Updated: 04/06/2021

Ripon dementia charity wins royal award

by Newsroom

| 04 Jun, 2021
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Ripon based Dementia Forward has received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the most prestigious award a charity can receive in the UK.

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Ripon based charity Dementia Forward has won The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

The charity has won the accolade, which is given for outstanding work towards the local community, along with 241 others across the UK.

More than 200 people volunteer with Dementia Forward, including minibus drivers, public speakers and coordinators who run activities for people struggling with the illness, such as gardening and baking sessions.

During the pandemic the charity adapted to offer virtual support including a 'café in a box' service delivering activities to people's doorsteps.

It reported more than 1,000 calls to its dementia helpline every month over lockdown. The helpline covers a range of services including advice for early dementia and deploying specialist support workers.

Jill Quinn, CEO of the charity since it was founded nine years ago, said;

"We have never looked back from that first step in 2012 and have grown the charity from supporting just 200 families in the first year to now supporting over 4,000 families and this award is certainly a red letter day for everyone involved.
"We are blessed to have a team of over 200 volunteers and so many supporters across the county."





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The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service was set up in 2002 as a celebration for the golden jubilee and has given awards to thousands of charities each year.

Representatives from Dementia Forward will go to a ceremony to receive the award crystal and certificate later this year. Next summer they will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace gardens along with the other winners.

The awards ceremony for last year's winners took place this week and saw Harrogate and Ripon Food Angels receive its service award. It provides a 'meals on wheels' service around the area, delivering to those who are unable to cook and checking on their wellbeing.

If you or a loved one has been affected by dementia, you can call the Dementia Forward helpline on 03300 578592.