Hello

In this month’s newsletter…

1. Welcome message from our CEO, Sally

2. Our June highlights

3. Supporting Our Future: Changes to Group Attendance Fees

4. What The NHS 10-Year Health Plan Could Mean For Dementia Care

5. Why Good Care Costs Money

6. Caring for My Mum: One Daughter's Experience of Alzheimer's

7. Dates for Your Diary: Upcoming TDS Events

8. What we’ve been Reading, Watching and Listening to

Welcome Message from our CEO, Sally

How are you?  I hope you’ve been just about coping with the heat.  It amuses me that we sometimes really look forward to rain  - to freshen everything, cool us down, and help the flowers and vegetables to grow. 

This month, I’ve been heartened by a great talk by psychiatrist, Dr Ross Dunne, giving us an update on dementia research.  It’s the most upbeat I’ve heard him and he really believes that within 20 years we will have early screening for the abnormal proteins that cause Alzheimer’s disease, and medication to destroy them. He also told us that there is good progress being made into the small vessel disease that causes vascular dementia.

I’m also hopeful that the likely next Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, will prioritise social care.  I’ve just read that he wants the Casey Commission to make its recommendations by the end of 2026.  This could/should mean significant funding is found for dementia services and to support carers. Keep your fingers and toes crossed!

In the meantime, please join us at one of our Cafés, or an event, where we can support each other and have a good time.

Our July Highlights:

• Carers Week

  During Carers Week, Together Dementia Support celebrated the incredible work of family carers by hosting a special Well-being Evening and launching a new social media campaign sharing video interviews with carers about their experiences of caring. The Well-being Evening included a delicious meal, a calming Tai Chi session and a foot massage workshop, giving carers the chance to relax, connect with others and focus on their own well-being. Our new series of carer stories will continue over the coming months, helping to raise awareness, reduce isolation and ensure the voices of carers remain at the heart of conversations about dementia support. 

• Corporate Support Making a Difference

  Corporate partnerships play a vital role in helping Together Dementia Support continue supporting people living with dementia and their carers across Manchester. Last month, colleagues from Betfred took on a 20-mile challenge run between their offices, raising an incredible £5,093 to support our work! If your employer is looking for a new Charity of the Year, or you'd like to organise a workplace fundraiser, we'd love to hear from you – every partnership helps us reach more people affected by dementia.

• Fabulous Forgetful Friends’ Seaside Trip

  Members of our Fabulous Forgetful Friends group and their carers enjoyed a well-deserved day out in Bispham, with fish and chips, sunshine, a stroll along the promenade and some enormous slices of cake! The trip was a chance to thank members for the contribution they've made over the past year by taking part in research projects and giving talks to professionals (to increase their knowledge). A huge thank you to our volunteers, Colin, Val and Kishwar, whose kindness and support helped make such a lovely day possible.

• Volunteers Week

  June 1-7th was Volunteer’s Week - a UK-wide celebration of volunteers, and the amazing contributions they make to our communities! Here at TDS, we’re incredibly thankful for our team of 75+ active volunteers that help keep our services running – whether they’re supporting our groups, visiting members at home, making brews at Dementia Cafes or helping out on the minibuses – every hour of their time helps us help people living with dementia in Manchester, and their carers, to live better. We celebrated with a ‘bring n share’ summer social, full of tasty food, good company and a quiz. We’re always needing more volunteers so please get in touch if you, a friend or relative is interested.

Supporting Our Future: Changes to Group Attendance Fees

From 1 August 2026, Together Dementia Support will be introducing new attendance fees for our Friendship & Activity Groups and Together at Home service. This is a decision we have made after great consideration but is unavoidable due to rising costs for venues, transport, activities, refreshments and staffing, alongside increasing demand for our services, stretching us ever more thinly.

As an independent charity, we are not commissioned, meaning we do not receive guaranteed funding from the council or NHS to provide our post-diagnostic dementia support. While attendance fees will increase, they will still cover only a proportion of the true cost of running our services. We have to continue working hard to get grants and donations with to make up the difference.

We are trying hard to ensure that financial circumstances don’t prevent people from accessing our services so a new reduced attendance fee will be available for people who have a very low income and receive certain welfare benefits.

You will each receive a letter, setting out the new charges that will start on 1st September 2026. To save on postage, you will receive the letter via e-mail so please look out for it in the next few days. If you don’t have an e-mail address we will, of course, post the letter to you.

Our free support for carers will continue, although we welcome donations at the Dementia Cafes to help pay for the venue hire and refreshments.

These changes will help ensure that the charity remains viable and can continue providing vital Groups, activities and companionship for people living with dementia across Manchester for years to come. 

Why Good Care Matters

A recent online blog (The Arc of Ageing) by ageing expert, Jane Barratt, highlights an important message: good care costs money, but poor care costs far more.

The article reminds us that quality care cannot be rushed or automated. It relies on skilled, compassionate people who provide time, support and dignity to those who need it most. It also recognises the enormous contribution made by unpaid family carers, many of whom provide years of support before formal services become involved.

As demand for dementia and social care continues to grow, charities and care providers face increasing pressures from rising costs and limited funding. At the same time, people are living longer with more complex needs, making high-quality, person-centred support more important than ever.

At Together Dementia Support, we see every day how early support, meaningful activities and compassionate care improve lives. Investing in quality care helps people living with dementia remain connected, active and supported, while also providing vital support for carers and families.

What The NHS 10-Year Health Plan Could Mean For Dementia Care

The Government has published its new 10-Year Health Plan for England, with dementia identified as a key priority for future NHS reform.

The plan aims to make healthcare easier to access by providing more services closer to home through local Neighbourhood Health Services. It also promises improvements to the diagnosis process by investing in primary care and training more GPs, helping people access support earlier and avoiding hosital admissions. Another planned change is to expand the NHS App so that carers can help manage appointments and healthcare on behalf of people living with dementia.

Perhaps the biggest development is the proposed Modern Service Framework for Frailty and Dementia, which will introduce national standards to improve the quality and consistency of dementia care across England. Dementia charities have welcomed these commitments while highlighting the importance of involving people with lived experience as the plans are developed.

At Together Dementia Support, we're committed to making sure the voices of people living with dementia and carers are heard. If any carers would like to attend a meeting of commissioners and councillors, get in touch with Sally. We’d also be grateful for help at one of our Fabulous Forgetful Friends sessions or a Dementia Café, where you'll have the opportunity to help gather the experiences and views of our members, which we can share with local decision-makers. to help shape local dementia services.

Carers’ Week: One Daughter’s Story of Caring for Her Mum

To mark Carers Week, former family carer Jo-Ann shared her personal experience of supporting her mum following an Alzheimer's diagnosis. In a moving guest blog, she reflects on the challenges of balancing work, family life and caring, while highlighting the importance of accepting support, prioritising your own well-being and finding the right help at the right time.

Jo-Ann's story is an honest reminder that behind every person living with dementia is often a family member or friend providing care, compassion and unwavering support. Her practical advice and reflections offer encouragement to anyone currently caring for a loved one with dementia.

At Together Dementia Support, we're grateful to Jo-Ann for sharing her family's journey and helping to shine a light on the realities of caring.

Dates for Your Diary: Upcoming TDS Events

Derbyshire Three Peaks Challenge

Date: Saturday 8 August 2026

Time: Meet at 8:00 am (8:30 am start), finishing around 6:00 pm

Location: Sett Valley Trail Car Park, Hayfield, SK22 2ES

Take on an unforgettable 33km guided trek across Derbyshire's three highest peaks – Kinder Scout, Bleaklow and Higher Shelf Stones – while raising vital funds for Together Dementia Support.

There is no sign-up fee, and participants are asked to raise a minimum of £150 in sponsorship. Experienced leaders from Tink Adventures will guide and support the group throughout the day.

We still have 6 places available, if you or someone you know, wants to join the team.

Dementia Cafes

Dementia Cafes are monthly informal meetings for carers of people living with dementia where they can socialise over a cup of tea. An Admiral Nurse, Dementia Support Advisor and TDS Dementia Support Co-ordinator will be present at the groups regularly to talk, listen and give advice & guidance. No need to book, just drop in!

Central Cafe - 1st Thursday Monthly -  Next date 2/7

Amani Centre, 144 Moss Ln E, Hulme, Manchester M16 7DG

1.30 - 3.30 pm

North Cafe - 4th Thursday Monthly -  Next Date 16/7

Higher Blackley Community Centre Victoria Ave, Manchester M9 0RA

11.45 am - 2 pm

South Cafe - Last Weds Monthly -  Next date 29/7

St Andrews Community Centre, Brownley Road, Wythenshawe M22 0DW

1.30 - 3.30 pm

TDS Legal Clinic

Make a free will or heavily discounted LPA at our next Legal Clinic, we just ask for a donation to TDS for the friendly and accessible service.

Date: Thursday 16 July 2026

Location: Zion Centre, 339 Stretford Rd, Hulme, Manchester M15 4ZY

Together Dementia Disco

An evening of music, dancing and fun for everyone, organised by the staff and volunteers of the TDS Wythenshawe Group. £10 per person when booked in advance, £12 per person on the door. Your ticket includes a meal, soft drink and all entertainment.

Date: Friday 31 July 2026

Time: 5 - 7:30 pm

Location: Wythenshawe Cricket Club, Longley Lane, M22 4JF

Carers’ Training

Carers Training evenings online, with Jo, Zaib and Cathy, on Zoom -  1/7, 8/7, 15/7

Email Beth to book on [email protected]

Bereaved carers’ Evening at Barrie’s allotment

You’re welcome to see these award-winning allotments and Barrie’s gorgeous sweet peas.

Date: Wednesday 8 July

Time: 6-7.30pm

Location: Moss Park Allotments, Lesley Rd, Stretford M32 8EE

What we’ve been Reading, Watching and Listening to:

^{Sally recently read this beautifully written article written about Muslim faith and how it can help some families to care for the person with dementia.}

John Snow: A Last Big Story

The film follows the veteran broadcaster's diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and features his final major investigative report into an environmental and mining disaster in Zambia

Dan read an interesting article about Evidence that 40Hz gamma stimulation promotes brain health