The Purple Angel Dementia Awareness Campaign is delighted to announce a significant partnership with Warrens Bakery, Cornwall’s oldest bakery. The collaboration will transform all 39 Warrens Bakery stores into dementia-aware spaces with the aim to enhance the experience for customers across the South West, South East and Wales.
Purple Angel was born in January 2012 to try and make Torbay the first dementia friendly resort in the country. Norman McNamara, a resident of Torbay, was diagnosed with dementia at only 50 years of age and experienced firsthand the lack of awareness and sensitivity in everyday interactions whilst out shopping one day when he was rudely spoken to by a shopkeeper. This inspired him to create a movement that would educate and empower businesses to better support those affected by the condition.
Norman began asking his local shop staff to read two pieces of information so that they could better support people with dementia and their carers, two weeks later he returned and if staff had read the guides he’d award them a Purple Angel for their window. Purple Angel has now grown to have well over 1,000 ambassadors, all with their own team of volunteers.
Commenting on the partnership, Norman McNamara, founder of Purple Angel, said: “Having joined the Purple Angel Dementia Awareness Campaign, Warrens Bakery’s staff will be helping thousands upon thousands of people who visit their shops, not just those with dementia but the elderly and confused as well. Warrens Bakery and their team must never forget that, through their support, what a difference they will all be making.”
Christine Stevens, Warrens Bakery’s Group Head of HR, added: “Purple Angel offers invaluable resources for understanding dementia. Our staff have been trained with the ‘notice more’ approach, which equips them to provide a welcoming and supportive environment for all customers. It is important to us to show that we care and we want to be inclusive to everyone who comes into our shops. We take great pride in being able to say – “we are now dementia aware”.
The partnership with Warrens Bakery underscores Purple Angel’s mission to cultivate empathy and inclusivity in public spaces, ensuring that everyone, especially those living with dementia, feels respected and understood.
For further information about Purple Angel, visit purpleangel-global.com and follow Dementia Aware on Facebook. For further information about Warrens Bakery, visit warrensbakery.co.uk, follow warrens_bakery on Instagram and WarrensBakery on Facebook.
(Main image: From Left to Right: Alex Ardenne-Muse – Warrens Bakery, Norman McNamara – Purple Angel, Christine Stevens – Warrens Bakery and Elaine McNamara – Purple Angel).
