Hertfordshire County Council has launched a new programme to help local shops in Cheshunt become more welcoming for people living with dementia and their carers. The initiative, which officially began on 2 February 2026, aims to make it easier for residents with memory loss to visit the high street and local shopping centres.
Shopkeepers and staff can sign up for free training provided by Memory Support Hertfordshire. These 45‑minute sessions are delivered as a ‘Dementia Friends’‑style briefing and teach employees how to recognise signs of confusion and how to help customers feel more comfortable while shopping. Businesses are also offered a site visit to suggest simple environmental changes.
Local businesses in the Old Pond area and the Brookfield Centre can get help with simple changes to their premises, such as clearer signage, consistent flooring and quiet areas. Once a business completes the training and passes an accessibility check, they will receive a ‘Dementia Friendly’ window decal (accreditation) to display in their window.
The scheme is part of a wider effort by Broxbourne Borough Council to support the growing number of older residents in the area and builds on work already happening at the Cheshunt Memory Hub, which operates at the Laura Trott Leisure Centre and offers regular groups and drop‑ins for people with memory loss and their families.
By making these changes, officials hope to help residents stay active in their community for longer and reduce the fear of becoming confused in public. The programme forms part of Hertfordshire’s county‑wide Dementia Strategy 2023–2028, which aims to make local services easier to use for everyone.
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