'Teaching children about my dementia gives me purpose'

Children at primary schools are learning about dementia by hearing first-hand from local people with the condition.

John Hyde, 68, was diagnosed with dementia when he was 59 and regularly visits schools in Bristol to talk to young students.

The scheme is run by the Alzheimer's Society and began in 2017.

Mr Hyde said he was inspired to do it after his granddaughter started asking questions about it whether it would happen to her when she was older.

According to the Alzheimer's Society, one in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.

Speaking at Westbury Park Primary School in Bristol where the workshops were held on Monday, Mr Hyde said his dementia affects his short term memory, organisation and speech.

"We're preparing them [children] with the knowledge that's going to come to them.

"Let's face it, virtually everyone on the planet is going to be touched by dementia at some point in their life.

"If we can educate the children now, it won't be such a shock to them."

He added his diagnosis started his "drive and purpose".

"The whole world is worried about the care of dementia at the moment. Whereas the future is where the cure is going to be.

"In my view the cure is in our children and grandchildren," he added.

"It's very important they understand what dementia is first."

Sally Townsend, community development coordinator for Alzheimer's Society, has worked with 75 schools across Bristol education children about dementia.

She said said: "Trying to develop positive attitudes when children are young is really important.

"It's something they can spread with their families and with wider communities.

"It's something to generate a more inclusive society, which is going to help people with dementia to live well."

Pupils at the school told the BBC they learned a lot and "there's more to the person than dementia".