EARLIER this week, Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub was named as the first global winner of a prestigious award.

It has become the first public building to be awarded gold status for its dementia design by the University of Stirling.

The leisure centre, which fully reopened last year after a multi-million pound revamp, has been described as 'setting the standard' for others to follow.

But what does that mean and what makes it different from any other leisure centre or council building?

We have been finding out.

Locker Saddles

Warrington Guardian:

These are Locker Saddles.

Catriona Sudlow, Sports Development Manager, said: "When someone has dementia, one of the challenges they may face, in a facility such as ours, is with regards to navigation, being able to find their way back to their locker and also remembering which locker is theirs.

"Locker Saddles were created through the Dementia Friendly Swimming Programme led by Swim England to support people living with dementia when using a pool environment.

"They attach over the locker, with a net pocket and hooks on the inside so that they can put their keys/glasses in a safe place. "The front then holds a place for them to put something in that they can identify with and will help them find their locker afterwards – this could be a picture of themselves, their dog, their favourite football team emblem – something they relate to."

Finishing touches

Warrington Guardian:

Man of the finishing touches at the building have been designed with people in dementia in mind.

This includes free-flowing reception pods, natural and artificial lighting, clear signage for easy navigation and floor finishes to stop trip hazards as well as fully accessible toilets.

Happy classes

Warrington Guardian:

One of the classes with Dr Das, right

Another key feature is exercise classes - such as the Happy and Healthy one - designed to help people.

They help people who would have difficulty attending a normal gym.

Dr Remesh Das has been travelling from Manchester to attend the Happy and Healthy class with his son for the past year and says it has really benefitted his physical and mental wellbeing, as well as enjoying the social element of the class – which also has had a positive effect of his life.

Husband and wife Steven and Maureen do the class every week and said: “Helen and Adam from LiveWire are great in dealing with people with dementia enabling us to keep mobile as we have difficulty in attending a normal gym on our own.”

Setting an example for others

Warrington Guardian:

All these factors and more lead to the gold award.

Dr Martin Quirke, from the Dementia Services Development Centre at University of Stirling, explains more.

He added: “Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub provides a ground-breaking example of how public organisations, businesses, and the construction industry can, through the design of public buildings and the services they contain, make meaningful contributions to maintaining and improving public health and social-inclusion within our communities - including the increasing number of people living with dementia.

“Warrington Borough Council and LiveWire’s success in achieving the highest quality of dementia and age-friendly design literally sets a new standard in dementia design quality for public buildings. We hope that the example set by this project shines a light for other organisations to show that it can be done, well, and beautifully.”