To mark Dementia Action Week 2019, which is being supported nationwide between 20 and 26 May 2019 to encourage more people to take action to improve the lives of those affected by dementia, Birmingham County FA is delighted to announce the release of a short film, produced to highlight the power of football.

The short film, produced by Birmingham County FA, follows Terry Bryan, a former footballer who, today, lives with dementia. Providing an insight into Terry’s life and his love of football, emphasising the way that it today helps him deal with the challenges that dementia poses.

Filmed over the course of  the 2018/19 season, Terry was identified through his attendance at one of Birmingham County FA’s Dementia Friends sessions, hosted at Redditch United Football Club. In that session, Terry revealed how he was a prolific forward for a number of teams across the West Midlands.

Through interviews with his wife and carer, Shelly, along with his friend, Pete; Birmingham County FA’s short film reveals how the pair provide strong support for Terry. A supporter of Redditch United, viewers can also see how football provides a welcome respite from some of the difficulties that Terry faces through dementia, in addition to how the ability to go through archives at his local library allow him to relive his playing days.

Birmingham County FA’s new short film is part of the Association’s on-going commitment to ensuring as much of grassroots football as possible works towards becoming dementia friendly.

Working closely with grassroots clubs and active partnerships, Birmingham County FA delivers the aforementioned Dementia Friends sessions across the region, in addition to running a football-focused Dementia Café, which takes place at the County FA’s Ray Hall Lane headquarters on the last Thursday of each month. These Dementia Café sessions enable people to reminisce on their days of either playing or supporting football, through discussion and looking over various pieces of memorabilia or playing games.

To support with this, a number of Birmingham County FA’s staff have become Dementia Friends, having received the knowledge and understanding of dementia, how it affects individuals and how to engage with those with dementia.

For more information on Dementia Action Week and the condition itself, please visit: www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-involved/dementia-action-week