VOLUNTEERS are urgently needed for Alzheimer’s Society’s Side by Side service in Surrey, to help reconnect people with dementia with their communities and favourite pastimes.

Launched in response to the loneliness and isolation so many people with dementia report experiencing, the innovative service pairs people with dementia and volunteers with shared interests.

It has become so popular that the charity now has a waiting list of almost 2,000 people with dementia across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Deirdre Timney, Alzheimer’s Society Side by Side co-ordinator for Surrey, said: “Loneliness is a real problem for people with dementia, yet we know that one of the most important things for those affected is to remain part of their community and continue to do things they love - from going shopping to enjoying a local football match.

“Our Side by Side service, offering one to one support is a vital step to making this a reality. By 2021, one million people will be living with the condition, so it’s vital that we all unite against dementia and do what we can to make a meaningful difference, such as becoming a volunteer.”

Volunteers have reported that they have gained and shared skills, developed new friendships and even enhanced their CV. Side by Side is designed to be flexible so that anyone can sign up.

Anyone interested in becoming a Side by Side volunteer or who would like to access the service should visit the website www.alzheimers.org.uk/sidebysidevolunteer or call 0330 3330 804.