STUDENTS at Newent Community School will appear in a film that raises awareness of dementia.

Since 2013 pupils have been exploring the memory-loss condition in Gloucestershire as part of a pilot scheme called the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia.

An element of their work included understanding the condition and taking action to tackle stigma through working with local groups and organisations, including Gloucestershire Police Service, to raise awareness.

They have already helped lots of people to understand the impact dementia has on families and communities across the county, sometimes within their own families.

The children’s enthusiasm caught the attention of local NHS, council and social care services. NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which commissions this work in schools, subsequently invited the pupils to take part in a short film about dementia that is to be aired at the NHS Alliance conference in London in December.

Head of personal health, social and economic at Newent Community School, Di Harrill said: “We hope that by educating young people, it will help to reduce the stigma often associated with this illness. We have found that the dementia project has helped young people develop empathy, tolerance and acceptance of differences, and hope that it will enable people with dementia live better lives.”

Both the school and the CCG have also worked closely with the Forest of Dean District Council.

The film, which was filmed by ITN Productions, will be aired at the NHS Alliance Conference in central London on December 9.