AN action plan to help people with dementia looks set to be launched in Colchester.

One Colchester has been picked to take part in the first stage of a £4.5 million Government programme which allows people to help its shape services.

It aims to develop and promote the borough as a dementia-friendly community in response to current low dementia diagnosis rates.

It is hoped this will increase the potential number of diagnoses and develop strategies which will respond to anticipated additional demand on existing health services.

The plan is to build a network, co-designed and owned by the community, to ensure residents live well with dementia through good relationships, activities and community-led responses.

Organisations involved in the One Colchester partnership, which formed in 2014, include Colchester Council, Colchester Borough Homes, Essex County Council, North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, Anglian Community Enterprise, social care teams, educational institutions, voluntary, community groups and businesses.

Tim Young, council deputy leader, said: “I’m delighted that One Colchester has been selected to go forward with its vision to increase awareness of dementia and the support available for those living with the disease in all its various forms.

“Dementia is a life-changing condition, both for those who live with it and those who care for them, and can affect anyone. When others understand dementia, it can make an enormous difference to someone’s quality of life.”

The money is coming from the Big Lottery Fund and the Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

One Colchester is one of 20 organisations selected nationwide to develop community-based social action projects which make a positive difference in their area.

Between now and December, the 20 partnerships taking part in the scheme - known as the Placed Based Social Action programme - will work with Locality, the national network for community organisations which bring people together to meet local needs to design their social action plan.

Following a further selection process in early 2019, up to ten of the 20 partnerships will be able to qualify for a further £240,000 for three years, to put their plans into action.

A final selection of up to five partnerships will then be awarded additional funding of up to £255,000 to develop and expand their plans for another three years to December 2024.