This week marked national Dementia Action Week 2019, dedicated to generating awareness of the illness throughout the UK.

Here in Honiton, as a result of the incredible efforts from our local Dementia Action Alliance, the week has culminated in some resounding successes.

This year, the focus was on 'join the conversation' - encouraging people to open up on issues surrounding dementia.

It was backed by the hashtag #StartTheConversation, which has been shared on social media channels to increase exposure of the illness and get people talking.

Nub News spoke to chairperson of the Honiton Dementia Action Alliance, Heather Penwarden, to find out more about the week's events.

She said: "In Honiton we do action on dementia every day, however this is the week nationally that we reflect on that a bit more.

"We were at Tesco's for 10 hours on Monday, mainly to create awareness and to have conversations about dementia with people – signposting and providing advice – but we also had collection buckets and took over £500, which was an amazing side effect.

"We've had a display up at the surgery as well and we're using our social media to get the message out.

"There was on event on Wednesday at the Thelma Hulbert Gallery with Memory Café members and students at Honiton Community College, putting up sculptures for the art exhibition.

"It's really important to be talking about dementia and for people to ask for help and for the help to be there.

"In Honiton we know, because we are a Dementia Friendly community, that we are already doing that, but it is good to have a week where we highlight all the wonderful work that the Dementia Action Alliance is doing.

"This week has been a celebration and a way of saying thank you to all of our member organisations and individuals who have had been involved with our dementia training sessions."

Image courtesy of the Honiton Dementia Twitter page.

For more information on the Honiton Dementia Action Alliance click the red button below.