A NEWPORT school has become the first dementia-friendly secondary school in Wales following a visit from a city care provider.

Pupils and staff at St Joseph’s RC High School took part in interactive information sessions run by Ray Morrison, a Dementia Friends Champion and director of Newport home care provider, Bluebird Care.

Figures from the Alzheimer’s Society estimates that there are around 45,000 people in Wales living with dementia.

If current trends continue and no action is taken, the number of people living with the disease in the UK will increase by 40 per cent over the next 12 years.

Having first-hand experience providing care for people in their own homes, Mr Morrison has already seen an increase in the number of customers with dementia.

All staff at Bluebird Care are trained as Dementia Friends as part of the company’s commitment to provide a high quality care service.

Mr Morrison said that his son Euan, a pupil at St. Joseph’s, came up with the idea of working with schoolchildren having ran several sessions with businesses in Newport.

“Young people are the carers of the future - educating them about dementia and dispelling any myths that surround it is really important,” he said.

“When I approached the school they were hugely supportive. It's been really rewarding to work with all of the staff & pupils and I'm very proud to have helped create the first dementia friendly high school in Wales."

Tim Nunn, assistant head teacher at St. Joseph’s, believes their new achievement fits in with the school’s ethos of developing “confident and caring students who make a positive contribution to society”.

He added: “We were delighted to work with Ray. Being the first dementia friendly high school in Wales is an honour that we take very seriously.

“We are already making plans to host a health and well-being summit later in the year and we are actively encouraging all of our pupils to think about the positive actions they can take to help people in our local community."