Central England Co-operative has announced that it has chosen Dementia UK as its corporate charity partner for 2017/18.

Colleagues from across the Society voted for the charity to be the focus of fund-raising for the next 12 months to help families and those living with dementia.

Money raised throughout the partnership will be used to help provide specialist support to families affected by dementia through the charity’s Admiral Nurse service and Dementia Helpline.

Admiral Nurses work alongside people with dementia and their families and offer one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions so they can face dementia with more confidence and less fear. The nurses can be found based in the community, as well as operating out of hospitals and care homes.

The Dementia Helpline is available to anyone and is staffed by Admiral Nurses who offer support with any Dementia related problems and to ensure those with Dementia and those caring for them get the best possible care and advice.

Customers and members will be able to support both of these vital services by donating via collection tins when they visit food stores, funeral homes or travel shops, and colleagues will be undertaking a wide range of different fund-raising events to help raise funds.

Central England Co-operative Chief Executive Martyn Cheatle said: “I am delighted to announce that our corporate charity partner for 2017/18 is Dementia UK. More and more people are now being diagnosed with Dementia on a daily basis, with around 850,000 people now living with the condition in the UK.

“We are committed to making a real difference to families living with the effects of dementia by taking part in a wide range of fund-raising activities and offering customers and members the chance to support Dementia UK when they visit food stores, funeral homes and travel shops. I am proud to launch this charity partnership on behalf of everyone involved with Central England Co-operative and all of us are excited about working together to raise vital funds for this great charity.”

To mark the launch of the new partnership, the Society will be encouraging colleagues across the 16 counties in which it trades to make ‘Time for a Cuppa’. The special charity campaign will see food stores, funeral homes and travel stores mark the occasion by organising tea parties and bake sales to help raise funds for Dementia UK throughout the month of August.

Dementia UK Chief Executive Hilda Hayo said: “We know that living with dementia can be a difficult and lonely experience. The support of an Admiral Nurse is a lifeline for families affected by dementia and the invaluable support of Central England Co-operative will mean we can provide this vital, life-changing support to even more families who need it.”

Central England Co-operative recently announced that it had raised £1.5 million for its previous charity partner Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children.

To find out more about Dementia UK visit www.dementiauk.org or pop in to your local store to make a donation, Central England Co-op have collection points in retail stores, funeral homes and travel shops and run regular fundraising events throughout the year.