Actor and comedian Sanjeev Kohli is backing an Alzheimer Scotland campaign to increase public understanding about dementia

Actor and comedian, Sanjeev Kohli has teamed up with Alzheimer's Scotland to encourage Scots to increase their understanding of dementia and what they can do to help.

The actor has signed up to the Dementia Friends campaign, which hopes to encourage more Scots to learn what little things they can do to help people living with dementia.

Kohli got straight to work and visited Bearsden-based community group Mind that Song to spend time with its members. The is a service provided by Alzheimer Scotland that uses singing to bring people together in a friendly and stimulating environment and is coordinated by a group of volunteers, all Dementia Friends.

He said: “It was a pleasure to come along to Mind that Song today, meet with some amazing folks and enjoy a good wee sing song. I’m proud to be a Dementia Friend and would encourage everyone out there to get involved in whatever way they can.”

We must up our game to support those people living with dementia and their families today and also invest in the future

The Dementia Friends campaign is supported by the ScottishPower Foundation, which had contributed £35,000 funding to the project. So far it has attracted the support of up to 24,000 Scots, who through signing up online or participating in a public or workplace learning session, have increased their awareness of the condition and learned ways in which they can help people living with dementia.

According to Alzheimer's Scotland, small changes can often make a big difference to people with the condition such as speaking clearly, helping someone find the right bus or simply being patient in a till queue.

Ann Loughrey, and Alzheimer's Scotland trustee and executive officer of the ScottishPower Foundation, said: “The ScottishPower Foundation is committed to promoting citizenship and enhancing the quality of life across our communities. With one in three people in Scotland contracting dementia over the course of their lives, this is a cause close to many people’s hearts. We are proud to support the efforts of Alzheimer Scotland and its Dementia Friends programme, which benefits people across the country, by increasing awareness and understanding of this all too common condition.”

Anna Devine, director of fundraising and marketing at Alzheimer Scotland, said: “Alzheimer Scotland is passionate about helping to improve the lives and opportunities of people living with dementia and their families and to make sure nobody faces dementia alone. With over 90,000 people living with dementia in Scotland, it is our biggest health and social care challenge and it isn’t going to go away. We must up our game to support those people living with dementia and their families today and also invest in the future.

“Thanks to the support of the ScottishPower Foundation, we can expand our Dementia Friends programme, grow our network of participants and help reach out to and support even more people living with dementia, their families and their carers.”

Find out how your business, workplace, school, college or organisation can get involved with Dementia Friends Scotland.