Villagers say thanks to Evenwood's inspirational Ernie

DOZENS of villagers flocked to a dementia cafe to offer a surprise thank you to one of their own stars.
Evenwood’s Ernie Malt was presented with a collection of photos and a collage of clippings for all his hard work at the Cornerstone Centre Dementia Cafe last week.
The 70-year-old lives with vascular dementia but hasn’t let it slow him down – working with the Alzheimer’s Society to set up the monthly cafes in May this year.
“I never had a clue about today – it was a big surprise, they are very good at keeping secrets,” said Mr Malt.
“It was our first Christmas at the cafe and it went better than I thought it would.”
The Gaunless Valley pensioner helped bring a table tennis table to the centre and has also secured funding for a sensory garden, which is due to be built in the summer.
He was named Inspirational Individual of the Year at the Alzheimer's Society’s 2016 Dementia Friendly Awards in reward of his efforts.
Dementia support worker, Rowena Carr, has played a big part in Mr Malt’s work.
“He is living proof that with support you can do anything and that there are no boundaries and barriers,” she said.
“He is always thinking of others and I think the award pays testament to that.
“If someone with dementia can win that award, the sky is the limit – he is a great ambassador and living proof that you can live well with dementia.”
After a buffet lunch, cafe guests heard a talk on the “Herbert Protocol” – a scheme launched last month in County Durham to help find missing vulnerable people quickly. PCSO Faye Callan explained how it worked.
She said: “We have had a lot of people with dementia who go missing – we contact the family and friends and I go to the house with a form and get them to fill in their hobbies, interests, which school they used to go to and a little bit more about them.
“When people go missing we found we were spending a lot of time asking questions rather than trying to find them – so it’s quickening the search time for them.
“It’s been in other forces for a while and it has worked – we have the details so they know where to go.”
Andy Ball, from the Alzheimer’s Society, added: “If someone goes missing and they’ve been gone an hour that is a huge area to cover – if you know where they are going, it’s a straight line to follow and it reduces search times.”
To sign up to the Herbert Protocol, email herbertproto col@durham.pnn.police.uk or call police on 101.