A GROUP of students have organised a memory walk to raise funds to develop a new dementia cafe at their college.

Around 70 people took part in the walk at Beamish Museum, which was organised by health and social care students from New College Durham, raising £800 for the Alzheimer’s Society.

Helen Owen, head of the school for health, care and public services, said: “It was heart-warming to see many of our students, staff, children and grandchildren, joining together to raise money for the Alzheimer’s charity. The event had a very humbling feeling as we walked side by side with many people whose lives are affected by dementia.

“The Dementia Café project will provide an excellent opportunity for our students to work in partnership with the local community and gain hands-on experience of working closely with individuals with a diagnosis of dementia and see the impact it has on their lives, and the lives of their family.”