Summary

By 2030, studies predict the number of individuals living with dementia in Uttlesford to be nearly 2,000. The Uttlesford Community Safety Partnership, charity Uttlesford Community Action Network (UCAN), and Lumiio are launching a new Dementia Wristband safeguarding initiative this May. This initiative will support the growing number of individuals affected by this heart-breaking condition in Uttlesford by making their essential information instantly and securely accessible.

What is discussed in this article?

• Dementia statistics in Uttlesford
• Who are the Uttlesford Community Safety Partnership (CSP) and the Uttlesford Community Action Network (UCAN)?
• Who are Lumiio?
• What is the Uttlesford Dementia Wristband Initiative?
• How to recognise the Dementia Wristband?

Uttlesford CSP & UCAN’s Efforts to Protect those living with dementia in Uttlesford

Dementia in Uttlesford

Over a decade ago, Essex County Council estimated that 1,070 individuals over 65 were living with dementia in Uttlesford; by 2030, this number is predicted to rise to nearly 2,000. This scary statistic shows just how pressing the issue of dementia is in the Uttlesford area.

The rise of dementia is likely due to Uttlesford’s ageing population, where just under 20% of the population in Uttlesford was 65 years old or more, a percentage estimated to rise to over 26% by 2040. Ageing populations also create a care gap, where the number of paid and unpaid carers does not match those needing support. This gap leaves many vulnerable dementia patients struggling with little help and feeling lonely and isolated.

To combat loneliness and boost independence for those with dementia, the Uttlesford Community Safety Partnership and the Uttlesford Community Action Network (UCAN) partnered with Lumiio, a safeguarding technology company, to create this Dementia Wristband initiative.

The Uttlesford Community Safety Partnership (CSP)

The Uttlesford Community Safety Partnership is a partnership between the Uttlesford District Council, local Police and Fire services, and the charity Uttlesford Community Action Network (UCAN). The Uttlesford CSP combines the resources of the partner organisations to prioritise protecting the vulnerable individuals living in the area, promote healthy relationships between them, and ultimately build resilience in the community.

The Uttlesford Community Action Network (UCAN)

UCAN is a charity operating in the heart of Uttlesford, Essex. Their mission is to support more independent living and improve both health and well-being for Uttlesford residents. UCAN also prides itself on addressing inequalities and improving social cohesion by growing its services and projects designed to serve both the needs of the community and specific sectors.

To support those living with dementia in their community, UCAN has been running the Dunmow Dementia Café for over seven years, with weekly free-to-attend meetings aimed at reducing loneliness and increasing education about the condition. UCAN are always looking to increase their services to support vulnerable members in their local community, hence their new partnership with the Uttlesford CSP and Lumiio on a dementia safeguarding initiative.

Uttlesford CSP, UCAN, and Lumiio’s Dementia Safeguarding Initiative

But first, who are Lumiio?

Lumiio is a business based in SW London that creates smart safeguarding products. These wearable smart IDs are designed to break down information barriers by storing essential personal information. Enabled by NFC technology, first responders and community members can tap and hold any modern smartphone against a Lumiio product to retrieve a vulnerable individual’s name, emergency contact, and key information like diagnoses or allergies.

Instant and secure access to this essential information is crucial in situations where communication has broken down, either due to memory loss, confusion, or difficulty with speech. Using this crucial information, responders can immediately identify, support, and ultimately reunite a missing, distressed, or confused individual with their loved ones or carer.

The Uttlesford Dementia Wristband Initiative 

Launching May 6th 2026, this Dementia Safeguarding Initiative will see 1,000 specially designed Dementia Wristbands distributed to those living with dementia in Uttlesford. These wristbands are designed to support those living with dementia in cases of wandering and becoming lost, but also in moments of confusion and distress. Using these wristbands, first responders and members of the public will be able to simply tap and hold any modern smartphone to instantly retrieve the vulnerable individual’s essential personal information and call their emergency contact.

By breaking down these critical information barriers, individuals living with this disease will feel empowered to live more independent lives, whilst their loved ones will have more peace of mind. This is in line with the Uttlesford CSP and UCAN’s missions to reduce loneliness, increase independence, and enhance social cohesion.

What to Look Out For?

These Dementia Wristbands are in the classic Lumiio wristwatch style in soft-touch silicone. Using the standard dementia awareness bright yellow, this design marries the practicality of wristwatch style wearability with the attention-grabbing brightness of the colour. On the band, to the left of the face, the wristband states the initiative's sponsorship by the Uttlesford CSP, whilst on the right, the NFC phone logo illustrates that individuals need to tap to help.

Interested in Lumiio?

Learn more about previous and ongoing partnerships via our Partnerships Page and Lumiio News. To get in contact with the Lumiio team, reach out at hello@lumiio.io or call 02045511450. If you are looking to partner with Lumiio, fill out this partnership form. Alternatively, view our FAQ page for commonly asked questions and key information.