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Dementia Action Week

19th - 23rd of May 2025

One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime. A report commissioned by Alzheimer’s Society in 2024, shows that around one million people in the UK have a form of dementia, projected to rise to 1.4 million people by 2040.

Dementia Action Week is an Alzheimer’s Society campaign that brings people together to take action on dementia and to raise awareness of the importance of a timely and accurate diagnosis for people affected by dementia. We marked Dementia Action Week at the Virtual Village Hall with a programme of sessions designed to support people living with and affected by dementia.

Dr. Richard Elsworthy, Research Fellow in Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at University of Birmingham joined us to discuss latest developments in dementia research with Dr. Rachel Fox, National Dementia Development Manager at Royal Voluntary Service.

There were gentle, dementia-friendly exercise and dance, relaxation and craft sessions to try too, and a session about how to access the Carers Element of Universal Credit. The Reading Agency discussed its Reading Well for dementia programme.

Please see the Timetable below for our Dementia Action Week sessions:

Dementia Action Week. Monday 19th May: Young at heart seated exercise with Emma Healey at 10 am, Scrapbooking a memory page with Kate Nisbet at 11 am, Seated Pilates with April Moon at 12:30 pm, Chair Yoga with Dave Rennie at 2:30 pm. Tuesday 20th May: Latest Development in dementia research with Dr Richard Elsworthy and Dr Rachel Fox at 11 am, Seated walking workout with Same Godfrey at 2:30 pm. Thursday 22nd May: The Carers element of universal credit with Society Matters at 11 am, SitFit with Frances Rayner at 12:30 pm. Friday 23rd May: The power of reading: reading well for dementia with The Reading Agency at 11 am, Seated Ballet with Johanna Hadley at 1:30 pm, Guided harp relaxation with Fiona Kyle at 2:30 pm.

If you weren't able to join us live during Dementia Action Week, you can find all sessions in our Dementia Action Week 2025 playlist on YouTube.

Find our dementia-friendly exercise, dance, crafts, relaxation and entertainment YouTube playlists below.

If you or someone you know is living with Dementia, you can visit the Alzheimer's Society website for information and support on living well with Dementia.

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Main Image: an open book of sheet music on a stand, with a harp next to it.

Dementia-Friendly Guided Harp Relaxation

Part of Dementia Action Week 2025

Better Bones Emma Healey Istock 1213784453

Dementia-Friendly Young at Heart Seated Exercise

Part of Dementia Action Week 2025

A man doing a seated exercise class at home

Dementia-Friendly SitFit

Part of Dementia Action Week 2025

Main Image: Woman sitting in her living room doing chair yoga stretches

Dementia-Friendly Chair Yoga

Part of Dementia Action Week 2025

Main Image: a group of people, sat on chairs doing seated pilates, with an instructor demonstrating at the front.

Dementia-Friendly Seated Pilates

Part of Dementia Action Week 2025

A little white and brown/yellow wooden house sculpture, sitting next to stacks of coins

The Carer Element of Universal Credit UK Explained

Part of Dementia Action Week 2025

Main Image: an adult daughter reading with her elderly mother with Dementia outside.

The Power of Reading: Reading Well for Dementia

Part of Dementia Action Week 2025

Main image: a digitally created image of a brain, in pink and blue over a black background.

Latest Developments in Dementia Research

Part of Dementia Action Week 2025

Main Image: two people sat looking at a photo album together, smiling.

Scrapbooking a Memory Page: Dementia-Friendly Craft

Part of Dementia Action Week 2025

Main image: a close up of a ballet dancer sat in a chair, in their pale peach ballet shoes, wearing a long white tutu.

Royal Academy of Dance Silver Swans® - Dementia-Friendly Seated Ballet

Part of Dementia Action Week 2025

Main Image: a person standing in the sunshine, with trees in the background - eyes shut, enjoying the warm sun.

Dementia-Friendly Seated Walking Workout

Part of Dementia Action Week 2025