Young-onset dementia charity expands in Surrey

The charity arranges activities for those with young-onset dementia

A charity set up to help people with young-onset dementia is expanding its operation in Surrey.

Younger People With Dementia organises activity for people affected by the condition under the age of 65.

It organises activity-based workshops in Guildford and is planning pilot sessions in Woking.

Support worker James Goodman said: "We were set up because there was a need. You hear dementia and you assume it affects older people."

• What are dementia and Alzheimer's?

• How does young-onset dementia affect people?

• 'Groundbreaking' dementia trial starts in Surrey

Mr Goodman told BBC Radio Surrey: "We're providing activity and social interaction for the person living with dementia, but we're also providing respite for their carers because, more often than not, carers are in full-time work when their partner's diagnosed.

"There's not as much opportunity for them for help," he said.

"We've worked with people as young as in their 30s, so [dementia] is something that really doesn't discriminate."

Those using the charity's services in Guildford say it has become "a community"

The charity runs gardening workshops, a choir, cookery classes and racket sport events, changing activities every six weeks.

Ian, one of the service users, said the group had "become a community".

"The variety of people and personalities is what makes it special," he said.

"The choir is the one where there's most people, about 40, maybe 50.

"There's no stigma, everyone's accepted by default," Ian said.

"At the end of the day we're just human beings getting on with life as best we can."

People under 65 who have a diagnosis of dementia can self-refer through the charity's website.

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.