Alzheimer’s Society Cymru has been named as Monmouthshire Building Society’s Charity of the Year for the financial year 2018/19.

Founded in 1979, Alzheimer’s Society provides support to people in the UK living with dementia, their families, friends and carers, and has more than 3,000 local support service centres across the UK.

With more than 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK, 42,000 living in Wales, the charity has committed to investing £150m on cutting-edge research over the next decade.

Laura Harvey, MBS' head of marketing, said: “Alzheimer’s Society is an incredible charity that does so much, in so many ways for people living with dementia in the UK, and for the carers who do such an amazing job in supporting them.

“As a regional building society, we’re excited to be a part of the positive steps the Alzheimer’s Society are taking in Wales to help improve the lives of people living with dementia.

“The society has already shown its commitment to supporting their members who are living with dementia with all of our branches now ‘dementia friendly.”

Chris Stokes, senior regional corporate partnerships executive, Alzheimer's Society Cymru, said: “Dementia doesn’t care who you are; it could affect us all. It’s set to be the 21st century’s biggest killer, with someone developing it every three minutes, and so many people are facing it alone.

"Alzheimer’s Society Cymru is here for anyone affected by dementia. We provide information and support, improve care, fund research, and create lasting change for people affected by dementia.

“It’s wonderful to have been chosen as Monmouthshire Building Society’s charity of choice for 2018/19 and even more special that we launch our partnership during Dementia Action Week. I look forward to working closely with staff across the Society to make a difference within the local communities in which they operate.

The money raised by the society over the next 12 months will go directly to helping people in Wales living with dementia today as well as helping us to fund vital research for tomorrow.”

You can donate to Alzheimer’s Society at any of the Society’s branches and agencies across South Wales and the South West of England, or for more information on them you can visit their website, www.alzheimers.org.uk.