THE Alzheimer’s Society and Southampton groups have joined forces to host a dementia festival this summer.

The event will take place on May 25 in Palmerston Park and will feature live music from Bob Pearce, Soul Sounds and the Alzheimer’s Society choir.

Residents will also have the chance to take part in a Bollywood dancing workshop and enjoy free massages throughout the day.

Dementia is a syndrome linked with an ongoing decline of how the brain function and problems associated with the condition include memory loss, thinking speed and movement.

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia and, together with vascular dementia, makes up the majority of cases in the UK.

Katherine Barbour, chair of the Portswood and Area Dementia Action Group, said: “Dementia is a big issue in our society and needs action to help people and their carers who are living with this disease day by day.

“This event is about raising awareness and acceptance, as well as making Southampton a dementia friendly city. We have been given £2,000 by the Southampton Clinical Commissioning Group and £1,000 by the Portswood Action Group, which is fantastic.”

She added: “We did this last year and it was over at West Quay so we are building on what was a successful event. We had 700 people attend in 2018 and we are hoping for 1,000 this year.”

Paul Lewzey, from the Bitterne Precinct Group, said: “It’s great to see so many organisations coming together to have a fun day with people with dementia, families and the whole community, sharing information about dementia.”

The festival, which will run from 11am to 4pm, will also feature a quiet zone run by Admiral Nurses, who support carers of people living with dementia.