Our history

For nearly three decades Alzheimer's Society has given hope and support to people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland whose lives are affected by dementia.

1979 to 2000

The organisation we now know as Alzheimer's Society was formed back in 1979, when two people with extensive experience of caring for loved ones with dementia discussed the pressing need to raise awareness of dementia and to improve the quality of care, support and information for people with dementia and their carers.

This led to the creation of the 'Alzheimer's Disease Society'. A steering committee was formed, consisting of carers and medical professionals, and the first annual general meeting was held on 13 September 1980. This first AGM was attended by 98 members and supporters. The first Newsletter was published in January 1981. A development officer was employed at around this time, and the first branches were established in Oxford and Bromley in 1980 and 1981 respectively.

Through the eighties and nineties the Society continued to grow, with volunteer committees establishing branches across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. At the AGM in 1999 members of the Society agreed the change of name to 'Alzheimer's Society'.

2001 to today

By 2003 the Society was a £30million organisation, with over 250 branches across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. However our processes and systems had not developed in line with our growth, which led the board of trustees to call for a full review of the Society's structure. This in turn led to the One Society programme, a series of changes to our infrastructure and working practices that were designed to enable us to provide more and better services to people with dementia. Implementation of these changes is now well underway.

At the AGM in September 2006 the Society launched our new strategic framework, providing the entire organisation with a shared set of goals, values and principles.