Homebase and Argos's employees and customers have raised over £2.8m to support people living with dementia.
The Alzheimer's Society, Alzheimer Scotland and The Alzheimer Society of Ireland will all benefit as a result of Homebase and Argos parent Home Retail Group (HRG)'s two-year partnership with the charities, which ended last month.

The tie-up aimed to support people living with dementia to stay at home and be part of community life for as long as possible. The money raised is funding local services across the UK and Republic of Ireland, including Singing for the Brain groups, Dementia Cafes and dementia support services.

Homebase and Argos employees supported the cause by doing everything from getting involved in in-store bake sales to trekking the Great Wall of China.

During the partnership, Argos and Homebase have also created over 10,000 Dementia Friends. Under the Alzheimer's Society initiative, shop staff gain a better understanding of dementia, with the aim of making high streets more dementia-friendly.

This could involve, for instance, being more patient with a customer paying at a till point to communicating more clearly over the telephone.

HRG head of corporate responsibility Amy Whidburn described the partnership as having been "a phenomenal experience" and said that HRG woud continue to encourage staff to increase their understanding of dementia by becoming a Dementia Friend.

Alzheimer's Society chief executive Jeremy Hughes, added: "Home Retail Group have really gone above and beyond all expectation. We are sincerely thankful to all those who have helped over the past two years."