TOP HONOURS AT THE KENT DEMENTIA FRIENDLY AWARDS 2015 FOR OASIS ACADEMY ISLE OF SHEPPEY STUDENTS

TOP HONOURS AT THE KENT DEMENTIA FRIENDLY AWARDS 2015 FOR OASIS ACADEMY ISLE OF SHEPPEY STUDENTS

Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey students are celebrating having won two Awards for their work and support for people with dementia.  The Academy were presented with two Awards:  ‘Kent’s Best Community Involvement Initiative’ and ‘Best Intergenerational Initiative’ at the Kent Dementia Friendly Awards luncheon organised by Kent Dementia Action Alliance and held at the County Hall in Maidstone on Tuesday 17th November.

There was little time to celebrate their success yesterday because the Oasis students were busy serving cakes and tea in their specially created Dementia Café at the County Hall!  Eleven Sixth Form students who are studying Health & Social Care welcomed and served 250 invited guests and dignitaries including those from Kent County Council, the NHS, Kent Dementia Action Alliance and other healthcare professionals.

The Awards recognise the Academy’s considerable work over the past 20 months to support people who have to manage the challenge of Dementia.  The initiative was originally led by three former Year 13 students, Lauren Glock, Devon Dumont and Conner Matthams.  As a result of their enthusiasm and commitment, a large number of Sixth Form students are now trained as Dementia Friends, volunteering in and visiting local care homes.  Last year a bid was submitted which successfully secured funding to launch the Academy Dementia Cafes which are held every six weeks. The students transform areas of the Academy into a themed cafe and invite residents from local care homes to an afternoon of entertainment provided by Academy and primary students.

 

Lauren Glock said:  “We did not start our Dementia Cafes to win awards. We did it to support our community. Having said that it is lovely to win an award as recognition for our work but to win two is way beyond anything we could have expected.”

 

Lauren, Devon and Conner left the Academy in summer and are now studying at University however, the work and support to people with dementia continues and is an important part of Sixth Form life, particularly those studying Health & Social Care.

 

Executive Principal, David Millar, said: “I am enormously proud of our students’ achievement.  A very large group of students are now involved in this project and our Academy is committed to ensure the Dementia Café programme and support to care homes continues.”