Like most districts Great Yarmouth is facing a growing issue with the number of people living with dementia.

By 2025 it is estimated that more than 4,200 people will live with the condition in the borough.

In a bid to help tackle the issue the Great Yarmouth Dementia Action Alliance has been formed and is now calling on businesses to support its aims.

The alliance wants to raise awareness of dementia and help those people who live with it and their carers.

As part of its bid to be recognised as a Dementia Friendly Borough by the Alzheimer’s Society, the alliance is asking businesses to sign up to alliance’s action plan.

Businesses who sign up will be provided one hour free training by what are called ‘dementia champions’ for front desk staff to raise their awareness of issues people with dementia face.

Trevor Edwards, a business connector at the alliance, said: “For example if they see a black matt they may think it is a hole and not step over it.”

And Mr Edwards was delighted to see the Mercury sign up to the alliance today.

Mr Edwards has been instrumental in setting up the alliance in his role as a business connector for Great Yarmouth through the Business in the Community scheme.

In that role he has looked at education, enterprise, employment and social cohesion issues in the borough and soon realised dementia was an issue.

He said: “I was also aware Great Yarmouth has an aging population and there are predictions there will be more than 4,000 people living with dementia in the borough in under ten year’s time.”

The alliance has seen more than 20 organisations sign up, including businesses, health organisations and charities.

Businesses who sign up to the alliance have to show three steps they can take to make themselves more dementia friendly.

The alliance is also looking at care provision at night times and working with schools.

Mr Edwards hopes to hear by the January or February if the Alzheimer’s Society will grant the borough Dementia Friendly status.

Any businesses which want to sign up can contact Mr Edwards on 07584 602555 or email Trevor.Edwards@bitcconnect.org