An Lanntair Recognised in Scotland's Dementia Awards

The awards recognise the country’s most innovative and ambitious dementia projects.

The awards programme celebrated several winners with categories including Best Acute Care Initiative, Best Community Support Initiative, Most Innovative Partnership, Best Education Initiative, Best Innovation in Continuing Care and Lifetime Achievement.

An Lanntair scooped the Best Dementia Friendly Community Initiative for the three year project which has been focusing on developing a person centred bi-lingual dementia friendly community within the Western Isles.

The project is funded by the Life Changes Trust and plans are in place to secure additional funding to develop the dementia project further.

The project was further recognised for providing access for people living with dementia, their families and carers to the creative programme at An Lanntair - from classes to performances and exhibitions as well as involvement with the St. Andrews University ‘Woven Communities’ project.

In the coming weeks, the project will open out posts in Barra, Benbecula and Uists.

Jon Macleod, Project curator, from An Lanntair, commented: “We are thrilled to be acknowledged by Scotland’s Dementia Awards for our work to support people living with dementia across the Western Isles.

“Our Arora project is a successful collaboration between ourselves and a range of local organisations including Alzheimer Scotland, NHS Western Isles, Museum nan Eilean, Learbhlan nan Eilean, Western Isles hospital, the local care home network and St. Andrews University.

“We hope this award will allow us to continue developing a strong supportive community for people living with dementia and their carers throughout the whole of the Western Isles as well as validating our research into the use of creativity, oral tradition and bi- lingualism.”