December 8 2017

A Wiltshire charity worker has won a national award for her work to raise awareness of dementia. 

Claire Thomas, Special Projects Coordinator for Alzheimer's Support, won the award for the Community Engagement category at the 3rd Sector Awards. She received her award from Dame Esther Rantzen in London.

Claire was nominated for her role in setting up a partnership with Holbrook Primary School which is now being followed by other schools in Wiltshire, launching the Trowbridge's dementia-friendly community initiative and personally creating more than 1,000 Dementia Friends across West Wiltshire. 

Alzheimer's Support Head of Communications and Engagement Stephany Bardzil said: "We are so proud of Claire. She has worked tirelessly to bring our message of dementia awareness to organisations and businesses across West Wiltshire. Over the past two years many thousands of people have heard her message about a better understanding of the needs of people living with dementia and their carers." 

This is the second national award for Alzheimer's Support in less than a month. In November the charity's Support at Home service won the Best Team in the national Dementia Care Awards.