Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia Intergenerational Schools Project - It's Not All Knitting and Bingo...

In creating Dementia Friendly Communities it is important that we involve schools to educate future generations. The Prime Minister's Challenge set out to dispel many myths around dementia and the Intergenerational Schools Project put this into practice. 21 pioneer schools around the country took part in developing an awareness raising curriculum which saw their pupils involved in meeting people with dementia and those caring for them. Schools developed innovative and life changing activities to help their young people to understand the needs of people living with dementia. The Association for Dementia Studies has been privileged to conduct an evaluation of this work and in this presentation will share the findings of this project. The evaluation captured changes in pupil knowledge and understanding of dementia, a range of resources and activities created by teachers, video footage of pupils and teachers discussing the impact this had upon them and the challenges they faced. Findings demonstrate the impact of the curriculum in effecting change in knowledge, awareness and attitudes amongst both primary and secondary school pupils. The presentation opens up discussion to consider the best way to ensure all schools have access to these curriculum resources and how they can shape the attitudes of future generations.