PUPILS at Llanfaes Primary School have had a visit from a senior Welsh Assembly Member.

Suzy Davies, a Conservative AM who is shadow minister for social services, went to meet the pupils and congratulate the school on the success of its Dementia Friends project.

She was met by head teacher Karen Lawrence and Joan Brown, who is a Dementia Friends champion and chairman of the local Dementia Friends committee.

She had heard that the pupils at the school have been visiting residents at Trenewydd Residential Home and spent time listening to the children in Year 6 who spoke to her about dementia.

The school’s Dementia Friends project has been recognised with a national award from the Alzheimer’s Society and was highlighted in a recent Estyn inspection as excellent practice. She learned from Mrs Lawrence that the children pay weekly visits to see the residents, with pupils of all age groups including reception, being involved. Mrs Lawrence said it was the fourth year the project had taken place.

Ms Davies said: “I was able to talk in detail to a group of pupils involved with this and I was struck by how engaged they were and how much they seemed to enjoy it.

“They seemed to get as much out of it as the residents of the care home.

“Many of us will develop dementia as we get older – and more of us are living longer.

“If young people grow up with a better understanding of how people live with dementia, they grow up knowing that it’s not a reason to exclude people.

“Dementia awareness is growing but there is still uncertainty and even fear about the challenges both for those who develop it and for their families. At Llanfaes, I’ve met young people who look forward to spending time with residents at Trenewydd.

“I hope it will, longer term, help support families with understanding and practical help – not least their own families. Some may see their own grandparents and even parents affected.

“I have been very impressed with the way the school has accommodated this, long term, into the whole life of the school and I congratulate everyone involved – from the head and staff of the school, the pupils themselves and to the care home which has recognised the value of building these inter-generational links.

“I will be spreading the message as I travel around Wales and I will be recommending that other schools take a trip to Brecon to see the work that’s going on here at Llanfaes Primary School.”