Watford FC is delighted to mark World Alzheimer’s Day with the news that our Vicarage Road home has taken significant steps to become more accessible to fans with dementia, in a bid to show dementia the red card and keep Hornets fans at the heart of the action.
World Alzheimer’s Day is observed on September 21 every year, raising awareness of dementia and providing an opportunity to educate, inform and demystify misconceptions surrounding the condition.
The day also aims to highlight the realities faced by thousands of people living with dementia and their loved ones, and encourages everyone to take action and help end the devastation caused by dementia.
Members of staff from both the club and our Community, Sports & Education Trust have been working with Alzheimer’s Society since the end of last season to provide awareness-raising sessions, while coordinators from the Society have visited the stadium and worked closely with Watford supporters living with dementia to provide tips and suggestions and help the stadium become a more dementia-friendly environment.
“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, which we hope will give supporters living with dementia and their families the confidence to carry on supporting their team and safely continue to enjoy their football on matchdays,” said Dave Messenger, the club’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead.
“We know we already have many Season Ticket holders who are living with dementia, and have made arrangements with family members and friends to ensure they can attend as safely as they can.”
Alzheimer’s Society Head of Local Services, Judith King, said: “As we mark World Alzheimer’s Day, we’re delighted to see Watford FC take vital strides forward to make Vicarage Road more accessible for fans living with dementia.
“Watford FC have been exemplary in including fans living with dementia every step of the way, taking on board feedback to help create a dementia-friendly environment, with stadium staff also completing Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Friends training.
“One in three people born in the UK today will go on to develop dementia in their lifetime. These measures have never been more important and will keep Hornets fans living with dementia where they belong – at the heart of the action.
“Alzheimer’s Society is here for everyone affected by dementia, supporting them through the toughest and most frightening times. We will not rest until we have ended the devastation caused by dementia. For more information or support, visit www.alzheimers.org.uk or call 0333 150 3456.”
Among the options available to supporters, the club can provide free-of-charge personal assistant tickets where needed, and supporters can use the various accessible entrances and seating areas across the stadium. We encourage anyone who needs some additional support to contact us (details below), and we’ll be more than happy to discuss their individual requirements.
The Watford FC Community, Sports & Education Trust also continues to run a hugely successful programme for people living with dementia. Golden Memories is a 12-week reminiscence programme for people living with dementia and their carers and/or loved ones.
The session’s content utilises the history of Watford FC, general reminiscence, former players, memorabilia, music therapy and dance through the eras, to evoke memories, create connections and bring comfort to both guests and carers.
Participants from Golden Memories also enjoyed watching last night’s match against West Bromwich Albion from the comfort of the club’s Sensory Room, the regular venue for the programme, to mark Alzheimer’s Awareness Day.
If you or a loved one are living with dementia and need additional support from the club to attend matches, please contact disabled.supporters@watfordfc.com with your details, and one of our team will call to discuss how we can help.
To find out more about Golden Memories, please click HERE or contact Shona McHale, the Trust’s Older Adults Project Officer at shona.mchale@watfordfc.com.
To find out more about what’s happening across the town, and the Council’s work to make sure Watford remains a dementia-friendly town, please click HERE.
