A three-year fundraising campaign by the Skipton Building Society has raised a quarter of a million pounds to support the battle against dementia.

Seven PHD dementia research students at the Bradford Doctoral Training Centre have been funded by the Society’s £250,000 donation. The money was raised by a series of events, including two fund-raising balls at the Queen’s Hotel, Leeds, under its partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland.

The Bradford University Doctoral Training Centre is one of eight specialist doctoral training centres around the country that are funded by the Alzheimer’s Society as part of its investment in future research leaders. Doctoral studies at Bradford focus on improving care, health and wellbeing at points of transition for people affected by dementia.

Hundreds of colleagues, many of whom have relatives or friends affected by dementia, joined in a society-wide fund-raising effort, including taking part in Miles For Memories, where they supported two colleagues who travelled thousands of miles visiting every Skipton branch in the UK.

Skipton has Dementia Friend-trained colleagues in each of its 88 branches across the UK.

David Cutter, Skipton group chief executive officer, said: “Over the past three years Skipton colleagues have raised a quarter of a million pounds for Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland and this has allowed us to support Bradford University Doctoral Training Centre and their research into transitional care for people living with dementia and their carers. Skipton has funded a total of seven PHD students helping them to cover a wide range of topics.

“The work being done at the Bradford Doctoral Training Centre makes a huge difference in the lives of people affected by dementia. They are supporting the next generation of dementia experts, who will continue to solve the problems faced by people affected by the condition long into the future.

“Skipton is proud to have supported the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland as our official Charity Partners for the past three years and I want to thank all colleagues who have helped to raise this magnificent amount for them.”

Pictured: Members of Skipton Building Society’s Dementia Friendly Project Team celebrate raising £250,000 for the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland.