# Tesco funding helps National Dementia Helpline extend to weekends - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/10/11/tesco-funding-helps-national-dementia-helpline-extend-weekends/ - Published: 2012-10-11T10:48:21+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake Alzheimer’s Society’s National Dementia Helpline is about to extend its operating hours to weekends for the first time thanks to two grants.   Tesco has given the charity £500,000 and [the February Foundation](http://www.thefebruaryfoundation.org) has given its maximum £175,000 matched funding grant over five years. The charity has recruited three new dementia advisers to ensure that no call goes unanswered. ## Advertisement [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)   In 2011, the National Dementia Helpline handled more than 21,600 enquiries, but was struggling to keep up with growing demand. The number of calls received has risen by 19% since 2010. The new funding should help the charity handle another 50,000 calls over the next five years.   Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland were Tesco’s charity of the year in 2011.   Josh Hardie, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Tesco said: “It’s thanks to our passionate staff and customers, who raised funds when Alzheimer’s Society was our charity of the year, that we are able to donate this money and help many more people affected by dementia.”   www.alzheimers.org.uk   * **[ISS UK extends its support of British Heart Foundation by two years](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/10/11/iss-uk-extends-its-support-british-heart-foundation-two-years/)**( 11 October 2012) * **[Whatsonstage.com Awards choose InterAct as charity for 2013](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/10/18/whatsonstagecom-awards-choose-interact-charity-2013/)**( 18 October 2012) * **[Santander chooses CLIC Sargent as Charity of the Year 2013](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/11/12/santander-choose-clic-sargent-charity-year-2013/)**( 12 November 2012)