Professor Dawn Brooker - awarded an MBE

We have some lovely news to start the New Year. Professor Dawn Brooker was honoured in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list with an MBE for services to those affected by dementia.  The press release in on our University website.

Dawn says

“I am so pleased to have been recognised in this way. It was totally unexpected, but I am very grateful to those who nominated me and particularly to my team at the Association for Dementia Studies who work so tirelessly to make the world a better place for those affected by dementia. Since the announcement on 31st  December, it’s been a huge roller-coaster of emotions reflecting on all of the family, friends and professional colleagues who have influenced me and supported me over the past 35 years. 2020 has been a dreadful year for people living with dementia, their families and the staff that support them which makes receiving this honour particularly poignant. All of you on this circulation list stand shoulder to shoulder with us in the work we do. Over this past year I have been blown away by the strength of the human spirit. People have refused to throw in the towel to say that personhood only matters when we happen to be infection free.  People have found ways of connecting, of working around, of keeping their spirits up and of advocating for those whose voices don’t get heard. What I can do is to listen and learn and to amplify these lessons as far and as wide as I can. The MBE gives what we are saying more amplification. Thank you “

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New research project begins - DemECH: Living with dementia in extra care housing

We are proud to announce that we have recently been awarded funding from the NIHR School for Social Care Research to explore the different types of extra care housing available to support people living with dementia.  As more and more people opt for extra care housing as a preference for their lifestyle choice, it is important that we know which models can best support the wellbeing of people living with dementia.  Alongside partners from Housing21, Worcestershire County Council, The Housing & Dementia Research Consortium and the HousingLIN, we are excited to be at the beginning of this 18-month project.  Findings from this research will be translated into accessible information booklets to support decisions by people living with dementia and their families, commissioners and health & social care practitioners.  The Project team will consist of Principal Investigators Dr Simon Evans and Teresa Atkinson and Research Associate Rebecca Oatley.  Please contact Teresa Atkinson if you would like further details (t.atkinson@worc.ac.uk)

Applications open for new Meeting Centres in Worcestershire and funding approved for the first three.

Organisations wanting to open a Meeting Centre in Worcestershire for those living with dementia are being encouraged to make an application for funding.

Funding for the first three Meeting Centres was approved at the first meeting of the Assessment Panel on 29 January 2021 - see further information here. 

Funding for a another new Meeting Centre in Evesham was approved at the second Assessment Panel - see further information here

For more information go to this page 

A new research project has been launched to help find ways to keep community centres for people living with dementia running in uncertain times.

For more information click here

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UK Meeting Centres Support Programme - Training for staff/volunteers

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