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Your June Newsletter
Hello reader
In June's issue
Welcome Message from Sally
This week is Carers Week (9–15 June) - a time to stop and recognise the quiet strength and dedication of unpaid carers, especially those supporting someone living with dementia. Too often, their work is unseen and unsupported, even though it’s absolutely essential. At Together Dementia Support, we know just how much carers give. We see the emotional labour, the juggling of appointments, and the small acts of love that keep someone going. This newsletter shares some ways we’re celebrating carers this week, and how we’re continuing to push for better support, more funding, and real change. There’s also plenty to get involved in, from writing to your local councillor to watching our new volunteer video, or even taking on a fundraiser! We hope to see you at one of our Carers Week events. |  Sally Ferris, CEO |
Sally, CEO
Together Dementia Support
Carers Week 2025: Caring About Equality
Carers Week begins this Monday (9 June)! This year’s theme is “Caring About Equality”, drawing attention to the very real inequalities faced by unpaid carers, including higher risks of poverty, loneliness, and both mental and physical ill health.
Too often, carers of all ages miss out on opportunities in education, careers, and personal development simply because of the demands of their caring role.
Carers Week is a time to raise awareness, but also a time to celebrate carers and make sure their voices are heard. Get involved in Carers Week 2025, and let’s work together towards a society where carers are properly valued, recognised, and supported.
There’s so much happening across Manchester this week and we really hope you can make it to at least one event.
Beth has pulled together a fantastic list of what’s on locally. Please do give yourself a treat and book onto something that brings you joy or rest.
We’d especially love to see you at our own Together Dementia Support events:
Monday evening: Drum Circle – Feel powerful, energised and connected with other carers.
Tuesday evening: Pamper Session – Held at the Dandelion Centre, Wythenshawe Park.
Wednesday afternoon: Picnic in Alexandra Park – Bring a blanket and relax in the sun (fingers crossed!).
Wednesday evening: Webinar – Hear from and speak directly with Manchester’s commissioner for adult social care.
Thursday: Outing and Lunch at FC United’s ground – A fun day out with good food and company.
At least one of our staff members will be at each event, we’d love to see you there!
9th June | Wai Yin Society ‘no choice but to care’ Enjoy a hot lunch with older Chinese carers | 10.30 - 1.30pm | Contact [email protected] |
9th June | ACCG’s Carers movement session, Claremont Resource Centre, Hulme | 11am | |
9th June | Together Dementia Support Drum Circle with Zsuzsa
Amani Centre, Moss Lane East | 6 – 7pm | Contact [email protected]
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10th June | ACCG’s walk and picnic in Heaton Park | 10am | Contact [email protected] |
10th June | Hopewell’s carers week celebration at Woodville Sure start Centre, Cheetham Hill | 12.30-2.30pm | Conatct [email protected] |
10th June |
Carers Manchester South Pamper Evening at The Dandelion, Wythenshawe | 5 – 8pm | Contact [email protected]
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11th June | Discover Manchester Guided tour around the city centre | 11am - 1pm | Contact [email protected] |
11th June | TDS picnic in Alexandra park, Whalley Range, enjoy fun and games and try adapted e-bikes | 11.30-1.30pm | Contact [email protected]
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11th June | Carers Week Join this webinar, Supporting carers: your rights, Wellbeing and Future and talk to the Led Commissioner about Manchester’s plans for carers, check whether you are getting all the welfare benefits you’re entitled to – and more! | 7pm – 8.30pm | Book online: Free Webinar – Supporting Carers: Your rights, Wellbeing and Future |
12th June | Carers Week
FC United stadium tour and free lunch, Moston
| 11am – 1pm | Contact [email protected]
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13th June | Carers Week
CMS String of Hearts music morning at the Amani Centre | 10am - 12 | Contact [email protected] |
Dementia Debate in Parliament
On Tuesday 3 June, MPs gathered in the House of Commons to debate the urgent challenges around dementia care in the UK. Led by Caroline Voaden MP, the debate fell fittingly between Dementia Action Week and Carers Week.
“Dementia is undoubtedly one of the most urgent health and care challenges facing our society... Watching people we love become confused by the world around them... is heart-wrenching.”
MPs spoke passionately about the lack of proper support for people living with dementia and their families. Many highlighted how care varies wildly depending on where you live, and how unpaid carers are often left exhausted, isolated, and unsupported.
“We need a clear strategy to support people with dementia and their families at every stage… No one should face dementia alone.”
“Three in four dementia carers have no alternative plans in place if they are unable to provide care... Nine in 10 have already reached crisis point.”
The debate called for:
Better diagnosis and access to new treatments
Specialist dementia nurses in every NHS trust
More respite services for carers
A national strategy for young onset dementia
Fairer assessments for NHS Continuing Healthcare
What came through loud and clear was that services, like TDS, are a lifeline.
“The most effective treatments in later stages aren’t medical - they’re access to information, good quality care, and support for the whole family.”
We’ll continue pushing for fairer funding and better recognition for people affected by dementia. In the meantime, if you’d like to write to your local councillor or MP to share your experience or ask for change, we can help. Just get in touch and we’ll support you every step of the way.
Make a Difference: Write to Your Councillor
During Dementia Action Week, carer, Cathy Cameron, not only completed the Great Manchester Run 10K with fellow supporters like Pauline Bowyer, but she also took the powerful step of writing to her local councillors, asking them to do more to support people living with dementia and the work of Together Dementia Support.
What motivated Cathy? She discovered that all our neighbouring local authorities - Trafford, Stockport, Bury, Salford, Tameside - commission community dementia services through the voluntary sector. But Manchester City Council does not.
Here’s how Cathy began her letter:
"I began Dementia Awareness Week by completing the Manchester 10K in aid of Together Dementia Support, a charity incredibly close to my heart. As a carer for a loved one living with dementia, I know first-hand how isolating and overwhelming the role can be. Six months into my care journey, I was at breaking point: exhausted, sleep-deprived, unwell, and invisible. That’s when I was referred to TDS, and everything changed."
Thanks to her letter, Cathy received supportive responses from local Wythenshawe councillors, Cllr Emma Taylor, Cllr Tim Whiston, Cllr Paul Andrews, and Cllr Munaver Rasul, and also from Cllr Tom Robinson (the lead councillor for Health & Social Care) who pledged his commitment to improving dementia services in Manchester.
Could you write to your councillor or MP, too? Even a short note can make a difference.
Just get in touch! Together, we can keep pushing for the support carers and people living with dementia truly deserve.
Professor Roger Kay, carer and vice-chair of national dementia charity TIDE (Together In Dementia Everyday), shares a personal perspective on an often-overlooked topic: Shared Care in care homes.
Roger’s wife, Dale, has been living in a care home in Withington for the past four years. Before that, she was involved in some of TDS’s activities - something Roger says he’s very grateful for.
Through his work with TIDE, Roger has contributed to a new research report on Shared Care, which explores how family carers can remain actively involved in their loved one’s care after they move into a care home.
What is Shared Care?
“Shared Care - It is understood that not all carers will want to provide active support when the person they care for moves into a care home. For those that do want to continue, shared care refers to the active involvement of carers in ongoing personal care routines, social activities and formal care planning within the home, to the level and extent agreed with the carer. The carer is viewed by care home staff as an essential part of the care team engaged in supporting the person with dementia.”
Roger writes:
I am lucky (or chose well). Whilst there is not as yet a formal policy in the care home, I have always been included in Dale’s care to the extent I want to be and have the time for. This includes all medical and care decisions, visiting when I want, engaging with staff, helping with feeding and activities. The only negative I can think of was when I was asked to leave the room whilst they were changing her “to preserve her privacy”. Not the best-chosen words. What do they think I had been doing when caring for Dale for years?!
Roger is now helping to pilot Shared Care training in Dale’s care home.
🟣 You can read the full report here:
🔗 Making Shared Care a Reality – TIDE Report Overview
🗓️ Join the Webinar
TIDE is hosting a Zoom webinar on Tuesday 10 June, open to carers, professionals and anyone interested in improving dementia care.
🔗 Register here →
Volunteers Needed! Watch Our New Video
We simply couldn’t deliver our vital services without our volunteers. They are the heart of everything we do and key to ensuring our support remains sustainable and effective.
Take a moment to watch the film, meet our amazing volunteers, and see the difference they’re making.
🎥 Watch our new volunteering film to hear directly from some of our incredible volunteers and see the impact you could make:
If you're feeling inspired, or can encourage a friend or neighbour to help TDS, we’d love to welcome you to the team.
📧 Interested in volunteering? Get in touch: [email protected]
May Weddings at TDS
May was a month full of love and celebration at Together Dementia Support!
Our wonderful Carer Support Manager, Beth, tied the knot with her lovely partner, Joe, and we couldn’t be happier for them. Before the official big day, Beth also had a practice wedding at our Moss Side group, where she married Coswyn in a joyful ceremony. Allan gave her away, and Dennis and Eunice gave touching readings - it was a truly special moment for all.
Not to be outdone, our North Manchester group held a re-wedding for Angela and her husband, John, with Tony stepping in as priest and some beautiful bridesmaids by their side.
And at the Pyaari Yaadein group, several couples joyfully re-enacted their wedding ceremonies, complete with dressing up, celebrating, and of course, dancing!
These events reminded us just how meaningful it is for our members to have a reason to dress up, reminisce, and share joy with their friends. And sometimes, a little light-hearted romance is the perfect way to lift everyone’s spirits.
On a serious note, we send our warmest wishes to Beth and Joe as they begin their married life. Don’t miss the photo of their wedding banner - a very modern twist on “’til death us do part”!
Beth and Joe on Their Wedding Day
Join Our Trafford Centre Abseil Team!
Join us on Friday, 27th or Saturday, 28th June 2025 for an unforgettable challenge, abseiling 172ft down the iconic Palazzo Tower at the Trafford Centre. It’s an adrenaline-fuelled way to raise vital funds for Together Dementia Support, helping us provide life-changing support to people living with dementia and their carers.
Entry is just £35 (recently reduced from £70), and we ask each participant to raise a minimum sponsorship of £150. Every pound makes a real difference in the lives of people in our community affected by dementia.
Dates: Friday 27 or Saturday 28 June 2025
Location: The Trafford Centre, Manchester
Height: 172ft abseil from the Palazzo Tower
Cost: £35 to enter (half-price!)
Fundraising target: Minimum of £150
Age limit: 11+ (under 16s must have a parent/guardian present to sign consent on the day)
Whether you're conquering your fear of heights or doing it in memory of a loved one, this is your chance to make a real impact, and have a thrilling experience along the way!
Hiring a Wheelchair: What You Need to Know
A question came up recently in our WhatsApp Group about how to get a wheelchair for someone living with dementia. Here’s how it works:
GP Referral Needed: You’ll need to ask your GP to refer you to the wheelchair service. This service is based in Wythenshawe and can be contacted on 0161 611 3800.
Short-Term Loan: If you need a wheelchair urgently, we have one available to lend for up to a week. Just call our office on 0161 226 7186 to check availability.
British Red Cross Hire: You can also hire a wheelchair from the British Red Cross for £22 per week, with delivery and collection options starting at £25. Visit their website here: redcross.org.uk/get-help/hire-a-wheelchair
Learn From the Experts at Our Dementia Café
In May, Paula and Jo hosted a special Dementia Café at the Amani Centre in Moss Side, where several carers, Roger, Pauline, Catriona, shared valuable insights from their own caring experiences. Derek, who lives with dementia, also spoke about what helps him stay positive every day.
The session was well attended by carers and people living with dementia, and everyone found it both helpful and enjoyable to hear each other’s stories.
Looking ahead, Paula and Beth plan to run a monthly Dementia Café at the Amani Centre on Thursday afternoons, with support from our Dementia Support Advisor, Donna.
Keep an eye out for upcoming dates!
Celebrate Dementia Heroes
There are so many dementia heroes out there - unpaid carers, dedicated professionals in the sector, and the incredible volunteers at Together Dementia Support who show up week after week with kindness and support. You don’t always get the recognition or pay you deserve, but we see you, and we want to say a BIG thank you!
Our members living with dementia are heroes too, doing their best every day and showing remarkable strength.
To mark Dementia Action Week, carer, Ben Hounslow, designed a special Dementia Heroes mug, made possible thanks to a generous donation in memory of Christina Lynch (Louise’s mum), who loved a good cup of tea. It’s a lovely way to celebrate the quiet heroism in our community.
We’re giving these mugs out as thank-you gifts throughout the year. Recently, we sent mugs to the staff of the Community Mental Health Team in Wythenshawe, who ran the Manchester 10k to raise money for TDS. We were truly touched by their effort and commitment, and a big shoutout to Pam Smith for suggesting the fundraiser. Pam, you’re a star!
If you’d like to get your own Dementia Heroes mug, they’re available to order on our website or by calling us to pay by card over the phone.
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