FOR most people, finding their way around a leisure centre would seem pretty straightforward.

But imagine not being able to find the changing-rooms, because the signs are confusing. Or finding it impossible to work out the locker system, with no-one around to ask. Or trying to use the vending machine when all you see is a chaotic jumble of numbers, symbols and buttons. That’s what it could be like if you had dementia.

Derek Clegg was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2014. He is one of 6,500 people in the district affected by dementia. As a member of Bradford’s Face it Together (FIT) group, Derek visits public places to find out how ‘dementia friendly’ they are. FIT works with Bradford’s District Dementia Action Alliance (DAA), which invites people with dementia to check out public places and services, such as supermarkets, banks, civic buildings, buses and trains.

Taking on a ‘mystery shopper’ role, Derek recently visited Shipley Swimming Pool to examine facilities and see how staff interact with people using the baths. “I didn’t know how to open the lockers, there was no-one nearby to explain. It was very frustrating,” said Derek. “Some signs were unhelpful. They call the changing-room a ‘changing village’ - I didn’t know what that meant.”

Derek reported his findings to Bev Fletcher, co-ordinator of Bradford’s DAA. “I contacted the pool and they took the comments on board,” said Bev. “We look at some of the barriers people with dementia face in a physical environment, such as a public place or a workplace, (some people are still working when diagnosed with dementia), and people's attitudes. A friendly, understanding attitude among people and organisations they encounter is the most important thing cited by people with dementia. They tell us they want to continue to live active lives how they want, where they want. A positive, helpful attitude from those they come into contact with every day helps them do this."

The DAA encourages organisations and businesses to be Dementia Friendly (DF). “A Dementia Friendly community is one where businesses, community and statutory organisations have thought about how they make themselves accessible to people with dementia. This involves making staff aware of what dementia means, and how to respond to different needs,”says Bev.

The DAA is part of the district’s DF initiative, launched in 2012 as one of the first in the UK. Paul Smithson, Alzheimer’s Society Services Manager in Bradford, said:”Enthusiastic supporters from the beginning were the council and health service. “We looked at people in Bradford living with dementia and those engaging with them on a daily basis, from corner shops to GPs’ surgeries.”

The idea grew into a three-pronged approach: developing Dementia Friendly (DF) communities; setting up a Bradford DAA, working with organisations and businesses to develop DF action plans; and enabling people to become Dementia Friends. So far Bradford has 6,728 Dementia Friends, 143 Dementia Champions (who actively engage with and help people with dementia), and has run 522 DF sessions. Organisations with DF programmes range from hairdressers to ambulance, police and fire services.

Led by Alzheimer Society’s DF team, the programme is run in partnership with Bradford Council and local dementia champions. Its work has been recognised on a national level - Bradford DF Communities is a finalist in the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friendly Awards. Categories including Community, Partnership and DF Champion, Dementia journalism, Young Person’s Contribution and Dementia Innovation recognise the part we can all play - from volunteers to hairdressers, hospitals, schools and sports clubs - in creating safe, supportive communities for people with dementia.

Paul Smithson said: “We’re delighted at being shortlisted, it’s testament to the tremendous spirit and amount of work that the project team and members of local communities, including people affected by dementia, have done to work towards making Bradford District truly Dementia Friendly.”

Also shortlisted is Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust’s Community Dental Service; a finalist in the Health and Social Care category. Spokesman Anne-Marie Dorrington said: “We work very hard to provide the best service we can for dental patients living with dementia. We have looked at all aspects of our service and work with other services to promote good oral health for patients with dementia. Our team have undertaken additional training.”

Emma Clayton, Leisure and Lifestyle Editor on the Telegraph & Argus, has been shortlisted in the Dementia Journalism category.

"I am delighted to be a finalist in these awards," said Emma. "Writing about dementia - raising awareness of it and how people can live well with it, giving a voice to people who have the condition and their families, and promoting the Alzheimer's Society's Dementia Friendly campaign - has become important to me as a journalist."

Winners will be announced in London on November 30.

Westcliffe Medical Centre in Shipley is also working towards becoming Dementia Friendly. Staff, including receptionists, doctors, community nurses and managers, are learning how to respond to different needs and liaising with people with dementia and their carers on what can make a difference. A Japanese delegation on a recent visit to the UK to find out about dementia programmes came to Bradford to find out about its Dementia Friends scheme. The group toured Westcliffe Medical Centre and met representatives from Yorkshire Dementia Action Alliance, Bradford Council's Neighbourhood Service, community group Cornerstone, reminiscence group Memory Tree and Baildon Dementia Action Group, working towards making the village Dementia Friendly.

Tomohiro Hamada, a journalist specialising in dementia issues, said: "Japan has a rapidly ageing society and the problem posed by dementia is a high priority. There is a pressing need for healthcare systems to adapt to dementia needs. People all over Japan are trying to find answers. We are extremely interested in finding out how you are creating new communities.

“There used to be a stigma with dementia - that has gradually improved over the years, mainly because of measures in overseas countries, particularly the UK which is years ahead of Japan in this field. We are here to learn from you."

Paul Smithson told the visitors about Bradford's Dementia Friendly programme. He said: “The success of the whole concept is down to developing a culture shift in public understanding of what dementia is, how people can live well with it and how it can affect them in future. The whole initiative is about community empowerment.”

* Visit alzheimers.org.uk