EAST Lancashire-based charity Al-Imdaad Foundation has funded a helpline designed to support people caring for loved ones suffering from dementia.

The charity has given Dementia UK £1,000 towards its Admiral Nursing helpline, which recently extended its opening hours to meet a surge in demand in what it hopes will be the start of a blossoming relationship.

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Charity director Abdussamad Mulla said: “After months of research and dialogue with Dementia UK we are pleased to announce that we have joined hands with Dementia UK.

“We aim to make a difference to all those that are suffering. We will work hand in hand tosupport this project long term.”

Chief Admiral nurse and chief executive of Dementia UK, Hilda Hayo, said: “The Dementia UK Direct helpline is staffed by Admiral nurses who specialise in dementia care.

“Their help is invaluable to families who are living with the effects of dementia, and the demand for the service they provide has been steadily growing over the last year.

“By extending the helpline service hours, we will be able to better accommodate people who are seeking dementia care advice, but who work all day and can only contact the helpline in the evening.”

As the only nurse-led dementia helpline in the country, the service has witnessed a 78 per cent increase in the number of help requests since January 2013 – with many of those calls coming from carers in East Lancashire.

Dementia UK has increased the number of phone lines and the hours to include two evenings, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6pm to 9pm.