A Rothwell man who championed efforts to help his local community and West Yorkshire Police become more dementia friendly has been awarded the British Empire Medal.
Peter Smith, his wife Liz, mother-in-law Doris, and Inspector Yvette Hammill, from Leeds District, were invited to a special presentation ceremony with Dr Ingrid Roscoe, the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, at historic Bowcliffe Hall, in Bramham.
Peter also had the opportunity to meet gold medal paralympian Hannah Cockroft at the event who was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire at the ceremony.
He was nominated for the award by West Yorkshire Police in recognition of the fantastic work he has done in the community, working towards making Rothwell a dementia friendly community.
Inspector Hammill said: “Over the last three years Peter has worked closely with West Yorkshire Police who have supported his monthly Tea Cosy Café which offers a meaningful and stimulating regular event for people with dementia and those who care for them.
“He has delivered dementia awareness inputs for hundreds of police officers and PCSOs to make them more alive to the condition and to know the signs to look for and how to help and support people with the condition.
“He has also been an invaluable advisor to the Force Performance Improvement Unit supporting West Yorkshire Police in becoming dementia friendly. He has also helped establish the monthly Cop Shop Memory Café held at Leeds District Headquarters in Elland Road and run by South Leeds Live at Home and Police Support Volunteers which continues to go from strength to strength.”
For more information on dementia, and the work the force is carrying out to make itself more dementia friendly please visit;
www.westyorkshire.police.uk/dementia
