Halifax board game with recognisable places and people that is dementia friendly

From Halifax Building Society and Riley's Toffee to Big Daddy and John Noakes, the game is packed with recognisable Halifax places and people.

Howard Priestley, Station Manager at Phoenix FM, discussed the idea of a Halifax board game with Malcolm Keilty from the Calderdale Forum 50+ and funding was provided by the Big Lottery’s Awards For All Funding project.

" I was becoming frustrated by the idea that the ‘Silver Surfer’ generation were being pushed towards the Internet as a means of communication when, as people are living longer, they are more prone to things like Dementia and less likely to want to surf the net," he said.

"I began to map out the game plan as I felt that things like board games were more likely to engage people of a certain age.

"Everyone who played the prototype found it a great way to open up conversations and the game was developed to be non-competitive with simple rules to follow."

Phoenix Radio were nominated for the Breakthrough of the year award, sponsored by Calderdale College at last year’s Community Foundation For Calderdale’s Community Spirit Awards last year.

The station won for the board game and since then the ABS Foundation, based in Elland, gave funding to produce 100 games and the proceeds will then allow for more games to be produced.

Howard added: "The game has gone to Care Homes and families and is proving to be a huge success, not only in supporting people with Dementia but also as a way of combating loneliness and bringing generations together."