BINMEN, cleaners and drivers working for Bolton Council will become ‘Dementia Friends’ this year.

More than 300 employees in the environmental services department at Bolton Council have been signed up for dementia awareness training.

The one-hour course, run by the Alzheimer's Society, will give the workers tips on small things that can help a person living with dementia, and how to spot the signs.

Around 3,100 people in Bolton are diagnosed with dementia, a chronic illness that can lead to problems with memory, problem solving and language.

Bill Moran, neighbourhood service manager at environmental services, said with incidence of dementia is on the increase and it is likely everyone will be affected by the illness, either through family or themselves, in the future.

He said: “Environmental services deliver a great deal of front line services to people who live, work or visit Bolton including street cleansing, ground maintenance, education and enforcement highways services, refuse collection and community services just to name a few.

“We have made a commitment that we will offer the awareness training to all our staff.

“Everyone needs a helping hand sometimes and people with dementia need a bit more help — with finding the right bus, or giving directions we believe our front line services can help deliver this care and support.”

Councillor Nick Peel, the executive cabinet member for Environmental Services added: “There are over 3,000 people in Bolton with dementia, and staff who are trained as dementia friends will be able to spot the signs of dementia in people and understand the problems that they have.

“We hope that this will help to make Bolton a more dementia-friendly community and town.”

Last month Westhoughton town council voted that they would all receive dementia awareness training, after a suggestion by Bolton West MP Julie Hilling.

George McNamara, Head of Policy and Public Affairs for Alzheimer’s Society, said the charity launched the Dementia Friends initiative to change the way the country thinks about dementia.

He added: “We are delighted to hear that Bolton Council has made the commitment it has to increase awareness of the condition among staff in a number of key services.

“We hope that more people will now make a New Year’s resolution to play their part and sign up to become a Dementia Friend.”

To find out more about how to become a Dementia Friend go to www.dementiafriends.org.uk.