AN ambitious scheme is being launched in Williton today (Friday) to try and create the first 'dementia friendly' village in the UK.

Students at three local schools - Danesfield Middle, St Peter's and Old Cleeve First Schools - will help launch the project in partnership with staff and residents from the village's Croft House residential home.

Dementia affects one in three people either directly or indirectly and staff at Croft House - which has its own specialist dementia care wing - have joined forces with Taunton-based dementia charity Reminiscence Learning.

Over the last six months, businesses and individuals have been encouraged to pledge their support for the project, which is being spearheaded by Croft House's parent company Somerset Care, Exeter University and Reminiscence Learning.

Central to the project is a specially written book, Archie's Story, which focuses on the story of a scarecrow who is living with dementia.

The book illustrates the main signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease, the most common type of dementia, and the things people should say and do to ensure sufferers feel they are still a meaningful part of the community.

As part of the project, free training workshops about dementia will be held for parents, grandparents, teachers, children, businesses and local service providers.

One of the main objectives of the scheme is to ensure people living in and around Williton with dementia can confidently use local services and businesses, helping them to remain independent.

It will also give local employees a better understanding of dementia and give them the skills to interact with dementia sufferers on a daily basis.

Schoolchildren and Croft House staff and residents will also be taking part in a scarecrow parade through Williton to Danesfield Middle School next Friday (September 28).

Jane Lynch, Somerset Care's assistant director of residential services and dementia care lead, said: "I am delighted that the Archie project, a result of many months of hard work, is being launched in Williton.

"We are confident that 'Archie's Story', so beautifully written and illustrated by Fiona Mahoney at Reminiscence Learning, will inform and inspire every generation in Williton to be dementia friendly."Anyone interested in being part of the project can find out more from Reminiscence Learning by emailing [email protected]">[email protected] or by telephoning 01823 323752.

The charity runs training courses and taster workshops to help people improve their dementia care knowledge and skills.

Somerset Care is one of the largest not-for-profit healthcare providers in Southern England.