Alzheimer’s Society receives £120,000 donation as part of The FA’s Community Shield

In the UK alone, 900,000 people are living with dementia. That’s enough to fill the King Power Stadium more than 27 times over.

Great sport should be unforgettable – football creates incredible memories for millions, in grounds and on screens across the country. But sadly many people with dementia in the UK slowly lose these memories of the game they love.

This is why Alzheimer’s Society is The Football Association’s official charity partner for the upcoming season.

Alzheimer’s Society and The FA are teaming up to:

• raise vital funds towards crucial support services
• refer players, former players and fans to expert dementia support
• help tackle the stigma surrounding dementia, by raising awareness among the footballing community
• create a network of dementia-friendly facilities, so people living with dementia and their families can continue to enjoy the game they love
• work with The FA to better understand the cause of dementia and its risk factors, to best protect players for generations to come

Kate Lee, Chief Executive at Alzheimer’s Society added:

“We are hugely grateful to The FA for supporting our crucial work as we kick off the football season."

"Together, we can raise as much money as possible to make the biggest difference, changing the conversation around dementia and reaching thousands more people with our life-changing support."

Whether it’s a player, former player, or fan, together, we can showcase how the unforgettable power of football can change lives for the better.

Why is the partnership so important 

Dementia is the most worrying health condition for over half of people in the UK (53%), according to a survey by Alzheimer’s Society.

But despite this, the leading dementia charity also revealed one in five would not go to the GP for a diagnosis because they were scared about what it would mean for their future.

Nearly a fifth of those surveyed admitted they would not recognise the symptoms of dementia and more than half said there was stigma attached to the condition.

A quarter (27%) feel uncomfortable talking about dementia.

Alzheimer’s Society and The FA are working together to raise awareness and understanding of dementia and break down these barriers, so people seek a timely diagnosis and get the support they need.