Nationwide has partnered with Dementia UK to provide specialist dementia support.

The building society will pilot dementia clinics in six Wiltshire branches before rolling out the service to 200 further branches around the UK.

Nationwide claims it is the first major UK financial firm to use branches for face-to-face dementia clinics and the initiative will help over 100,000 people living with dementia, stating will provide funding for 30 Dementia UK Admiral Nurses who will bring specialist health and financial support to their branches. Additionally, they will provide help through the charity’s dedicated helpline.

The free service is available on set dates and is available for anyone affected by dementia, including family and carers. The clinics will also be available to non-Nationwide customers.

According to Dementia UK, around a million people are currently living with dementia in the UK today and it is the leading cause of death in the country. The number of people living with dementia is predicted to increase to 1.6 million by 2040, with the annual cost to the UK economy expected to rise to £90 billion by 2040.

The initiative forms part of Nationwide’s social impact programme, Nationwide Fairer Futures, which aims to tackle three of the country’s biggest social issues through charity partnerships. In addition to the partnership with Dementia UK, Nationwide is working with Centrepoint to address youth homelessness and Action for Children to address family poverty.

“Nationwide wants to help people live their best life possible, for as long as possible. By working with Dementia UK to fund more Admiral Nurses and turning our branches into dementia clinics, we’re helping to tackle the country’s leading cause of death,” Debbie Crosbie, chief executive officer of Nationwide. “As a mutual, we work for the good of society as well as our members.

“We believe this and Nationwide Fairer Futures will change hundreds of thousands of lives for the better.”

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