Home Retail Group raises £2.8m for Alzheimers Society

Home Retail Group has raised over £2.8million for Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimer Scotland and The Alzheimer Society of Ireland during the two-year charity partnership with the charities. The partnership ended last month (February 2015).

The charity partnership aimed to support people living with dementia to stay at home and be part of community life for as long as possible. The money raised is funding vital local services across the UK and Republic of Ireland, including Singing for the Brain groups, Dementia Cafes and Dementia Support services.

From colleagues trekking the Great Wall of China to themed dress-up and bake sales taking place in-store, colleagues and customers from each of Home Retail Group's brands (Argos, Homebase and Habitat) have been fully engaged and supportive of the cause.   

During the partnership, Argos and Homebase has also created over 10,000 Dementia Friends. By encouraging colleagues to become a Dementia Friend – an Alzheimer's Society initiative increasing understanding of dementia – they aim to make our high streets more dementia-friendly. From being more patient with a customer paying at a till point to communicating more clearly over the telephone – being a Dementia Friend will help Home Retail Group colleagues to interact with people living with dementia. 

Amy Whidburn, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Home Retail Group, said: 

'Our partnership with Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimer Scotland and The Alzheimer Society of Ireland over the past two years has been a phenomenal experience and I'm delighted we've managed to raise so much to support people living with dementia and their carers. Colleagues have been so engaged and our customers have given so generously, it is clear that dementia is a cause close to hearts of so many. 

'I'm thrilled we have been able to fund vital services across the UK and Ireland, supporting people with the condition to say in their own home and be part of community life for longer. While our charity partnership has come to an end, a legacy will remain and we will continue to encourage our colleagues to increase their understanding of dementia by becoming a Dementia Friend. Thank you to all that made this partnership such a great success.'Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive at Alzheimer's Society, said: 

'I'm absolutely delighted by our work with Home Retail Group over the past two years and I'd like to thank all those at Argos, Homebase and Habitat for their dedication towards making this partnership such a great success. Their colleagues and customers have been incredible in getting behind this charity partnership and collectively we have achieved so much. 

'From the fundraising activity helping us to provide vital services to those living with dementia to making our high streets more dementia-friendly, Home Retail Group have really gone above and beyond all expectation. We are sincerely thankful to all those who have helped over the past two years.'

Source: Alzheimers.org.uk

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