CARING pupils have become among the youngest in the country to be trained in dementia awareness.

Around 30 children at Barnoldswick’s St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School’s E-Cool club were awarded Dementia Friends badges following sessions learning about the condition.

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The group has been working closely with Cravenside Home for Older People in Lower North Avenue, which cares for residents with dementia.

The idea was spearheaded by Coun Jennifer Purcell who is chairman of Friends of Cravenside and now hopes to roll out the idea across other schools in Pendle.

She believes it will create greater awareness of the condition by educating youngsters.

The project is part of Pendle Council’s Dementia Friends campaign.

She said: “A lot of work has been done nationally to educate adults about dementia but the issue hasn’t been addressed with children.

“A lot of children will be living with grandparents and possibly parents that suffer from the condition, so it is important that they understand about the disease.

“The children have gained a lot from taking part in the training course and have done really well to be awarded the badges.

“We are now hoping to roll this out to schools across Pendle and think that we will set a precedent for the rest of the country .”

In order to gain the badges the children had to answer a range of verbal questions about the condition during group exercises.

The badges were presented at a achievement assembly at the school.

Louise Catlow, E-Cool club leader at the West Close Road school said: Over the last few months, St Joseph’s E-Cool Club have been working on a project to improve the gardens for the residents at Cravenside. “The 30 children and seven staff and volunteers, along with Councillor Purcell, spent a few weeks digging and clearing the garden before re-planting it.

“Some of the residents the children met have dementia and we thought it would be great if the children could gain an understanding of the illness as some of them have grandparents with dementia.

“Gill and Kath, who are dementia champions from Pendle Council, came to speak to the children and, through a series of activities and games, helped them to understand what dementia is and how it affects both the sufferer and their families.

“We are thrilled to be the first school in our area to take part n the dementia training. The children enjoyed it and have been talking about it to their family and friends.”