A year since being granted £25,000, a Bury St Edmunds charity has been able to train dozens of school pupils to help those with dementia.

The YOPEY (Young People of the Year) befriending scheme was backed by the Aviva Community Fund, with the charity now encouraging others to nominate a deserving local cause.

Last year Aviva provided awards to 431 projects and hopes to help more this year.

Tony Gearing, founder of YOPEY, said: “The funding we won last year has made such a difference not only to our organisation, but also to local communities. Without it, the scheme in Bury just wouldn’t have been possible.

“Not only are the care home residents benefitting from new friendships, but young people are also learning tools for life.

“I could really encourage organisations and the local community to get behind this year’s Aviva Community Fund to help increase the prize fund and make a difference to groups like ours.”

The funding meant the charity could run its services in Bury, with an existing scheme already in Nottingham.

The scheme has trained more than 50 14 to 18-year-olds from County Upper School and St Benedict’s School to relate to people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The pupils now spend an hour at either St Peter’s House or North Court care homes.

Applications for the 2016 fund open in September, with grants of from £1,000 to £25,000 on offer. Lyndsey Forster, customer marketing director at Aviva, said: “As YOPEY has shown, the work of community groups across the UK is invaluable and touches the lives of so many. We want to enable great organisations such as YOPEY and so many more to continue this inspiring work.”

Aviva will pledge an extra £1 to the prize fund for every person who signs up to MyAviva in June, helping to make the Aviva Community Fund even bigger. Visit here to find out more