WORKERS at a Keighley social housing group have been given dementia-friendly training to help them support vulnerable residents.

Twenty-seven Incommunities apprentices and construction managers are among the latest employees to take part in the sessions.

More than 100 staff from the group and its customers have now undergone training, supported by the Alzheimer's Society.

The short courses are run by colleagues Tracy Tough and Kelly Hargreaves, who trained as dementia champions to raise awareness among Incommunities frontline staff and customer groups.

Kelly said: "Dementia is a growing challenge nationally and as a group serving 55,000 people, we want to make sure staff – including our young apprentices – are able to support all our vulnerable customers in the best way possible."

Among those who took part in the latest training session was plastering apprentice Keeley McIntyre.

She said: "My partner's grandad has dementia so I know how important it is to respect and understand the needs of people with the condition.

"This training has given me a real insight into how we can help our customers when we go into their homes."

Geraldine Howley, Incommunities' group chief executive, stressed the importance of the training.

"Our staff regularly come into contact with customers with different physical and emotional needs," she said.

"This training is an important step in ensuring we are able to make the lives of people living with dementia – including their carers – better and help them to continue to live independently for as long as possible.

"As an organisation we are determined to become a dementia-friendly housing provider and make a positive difference across our communities."