Pools are on the ball for dementia support

The club has signed Dementia Friendly Charter pledging to extend their support to people with dementia on match days and beyond.

Club Chairman Gary Coxall was joined by Andrew Ball from the Alzheimer’s Society and guests from Dementia Friendly Hartlepool.

Mr Coxall said: “We’re really pleased to sign this Charter and make people aware that Hartlepool United is truly a dementia friendly environment.

“The Charter pledges a series of measures to help us better meet the needs of supporters who are living with dementia and promote the good work that Alzheimer’s Society are doing.”

Earlier this season, the club organised a Dementia Friends session at the ground which helped give key staff the information required to help them better serve Pools fans living with dementia.

Michael Evans – the man inside mascot H’Angus – recently became a Dementia Friends Champion and the club is planning to hold sessions where he can pass on information to as many other people as possible.

The Alzheimer’s Society aims to reach a target of four million Dementia Friends in the coming years.

Mr Ball from the society said: “There are over 850,000 people living with dementia, our aim is to create communities that make daily living and activities easier and more accessible to people living with dementia.

“By committing to a Dementia Friendly Charter, Hartlepool United are top of the league by supporting people with dementia to enjoy match days as much as they always have prior to a diagnosis.”