Sidmouth College pupils have shown they are true ‘dementia friends’ by raising £1,157 for the Admiral Nurse Campaign.

The college named the £100,000 appeal as its ‘charity of the year’ and held an all-school sponsored walk in October to kick-start the fundraising.

As part of its long-term plan, pupils are undergoing training to become ‘dementia friends’ - to learn how to help vulnerable elderly residents in the community.

Teacher Lisa Whitworth said: “They have a high level of understanding. There are a lot of students that have been involved working at the memory café.

“They are fantastic and they understand what these people are going through and they want to help.”

Since May last year, the Sid Valley Memory Café has been working in partnership with the Herald to bring a dementia specialist to the area.

The six-figure sum will cover the cost of hiring an Admiral Nurse for two years.

Angela Thompson, memory café co-ordinator, said: “What a wonderful surprise - the college has really excelled itself with this amazing cheque donated to the Admiral Nurse Campaign.

“It brings us ever nearer our target. The support from staff, students and their families is quite overwhelming.”

The memory café and the school have worked together on a number of projects including ‘Old Skool Learning’.

Year 10 health and social care pupils helped organise the event to show how education had changed over the years.

The campaign’s total currently stands at £67,000.

Upcoming events in aid of the appeal include the Inner Wheel of Sidmouth’s beetle drive, which will take place on Friday, April 8.

Doors will open at St Teresa’s Hall, in Connaught Road, at 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

Guests can take their own drink and the group provide glasses.

The event costs £8 per-person and includes a Ploughman’s lunch. Tickets are available from Paragon Books.