A Braintree dementia charity has attended a high-profile reception at 10 Downing Street.

Set up in 2009, Essex Dementia Care aids people suffering from dementia with its activity centres and specialised one-to-one Memory Companion service.

The reception was held in honour of the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission, a nationwide initiative aimed at combatting dementia.

A host of charities, academics, investors, and business leaders were in attendance.

At the reception, several significant announcements were made concerning future efforts to tackle dementia.

Scott Mitchell, Dame Barbara Windsor's husband, was formally named People's Champion for the National Mission, while a funding boost of £6 million was pledged to accelerate clinical trials and encourage innovation in dementia treatment.

The launch of the Neurodegeneration initiative was also announced, aiming to stimulate the number of dementia clinical trials conducted.

One of the key figures at the event, Hilary Evans, co-chair of the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission and chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: "The Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission is grounded in collaboration across the whole dementia landscape, from researchers to regulatory bodies, and of course the NHS.

"But we must go further to save people from the heartbreak of dementia sooner.

"New treatments for Alzheimer’s disease – the leading cause of dementia – are finally on the horizon.

"We are now in the strongest position yet to bring an end to the devastation this condition inflicts on people and society.

"Now we must keep up this momentum and ensure the UK is at the forefront of tackling dementia for years to come."

Senior manager Kelly Bleasdale represented Essex Dementia Care at the event.

She said: "It was a wonderful event and I met some great people and a number of charities like EDC that are doing fantastic work in other areas of the country.

"This was a great experience and I was very proud to be part of it.

"We look forward to working with others to increase awareness."

For more information about their services, call Essex Dementia Care on 01245 363789 or visit their website.