A HEREFORD arts centre has been named as the best dementia friendly organisation in the country for its work with people living with the condition.

The Courtyard picked up the dementia friendly organisation of the year award in the small/medium category for its creative ageing project.

The centre hosts regular dementia friendly events and deliver monthly dementia friends information sessions to all new staff as well as members of the public who are interested in creating a more dementia friendly community.

Jordan Todd and Robyn Barratt, who work on the project, attended the ceremony and collected the award from Alzheimer's Society Chief Executive Jeremy Hughes.

Miss Barratt said: "We were delighted to receive the award. It's so important to us to ensure our venue provides a safe and supportive environment for those living with dementia so that they, along with their carers, friends and family can come and engage in the arts.

"To have our work recognised by The Alzheimers Society on a national level is a huge achievement."

The Courtyard was the first arts venue in the UK to join the dementia action alliance and this was the first time that it has been nominated for a dementia friendly award.