Dementia Support Line
Neighbourhood Health - Enabling a society to beat dementia
Join us at our event in Manchester to explore how we as a society, can help beat dementia in our local communities.
Event Information
Date: Wednesday 04 March 2026
Location: Voco Manchester – City Centre by IHG, 59 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3HP
Time: 10:00am - 16:30pm
Cost: Free to attend
Registration: We've now closed registration for this event
Dementia affects every community. It is one of the UK’s biggest health and social care challenges and it does not discriminate.
The current focus on neighbourhood health services is an opportunity to rethink how people with dementia can be supported to live healthier and more active lives for longer.
We know that a strong sense of community support and access to healthcare services can make a significant difference - both to those with a dementia diagnosis and the friends and families supporting them.
Key to this is a local community and health and care workforce that has the right knowledge about dementia to provide a safe and supportive neighbourhood for individuals to live in.
Event Schedule
At this event, you will hear:
- Powerful stories from people affected by dementia of their experiences of living with a diagnosis and to understand how communities can work together to gain more understanding of the disease.
- Why a fully integrated neighbourhood health and wellbeing services is so significant for people living with dementia, and what systems should consider during their development.
- How innovation and service design is transforming dementia care, opening new doors for support.
- Learn how-quality, evidence-informed dementia training and education delivered in communities can lead to positive impacts for people living with dementia and the neighbourhood workforce.
Join us to learn, connect, and help shape a future where no once faces dementia alone.
Contact us
If you have any questions about this event, do get in touch with our team by sending your query to us using our contact form.
10:00am 10:30am - Registration and Refreshments
10:30am - 10:45am - Welcome
Speakers: Greg Malone, Head of Partnerships and Business Development, Alzheimer's Society and Chris Larkin, Associate Director of Local Services, Alzheimer’s Society
10:45am - 11:45am - Neighbourhood health and wellbeing through a dementia lens: the challenges and opportunities
Speakers: Alison Clowes, Local Systems Influencing Manager, Alzheimer’s Society
11:45am - 12:30pm - The voice of people affected by dementia – Q&A session
Chair: Sue Clarke, Regional Manager, Greater Manchester, Speakers: Jagdish Brar-Orgill, Masood Ahmed Quereshi and Shakil Salam
12:30pm - 13:30pm - Lunch break and networking
13:30pm - 15:15pm - The importance of high-quality dementia training for the whole workforce
Chair: Sophie Tucker, Training and Partnerships Manager, Alzheimer’s Society, Speakers: Joanne Gardner, Policy Coordinator at West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Tim Howell, Learning and Development Partner at Home Instead
15:15pm - 15:30pm - Final thoughts and Closing
Speaker: Chris Larkin, Associate Director of Local Services, Alzheimer’s Society
15:30pm - 16:30pm - Coffee and networking
Session 1 - Neighbourhood health and wellbeing through a dementia lens: the challenges and opportunities
Overview:
This interactive session will explore why a fully integrated neighbourhood health and wellbeing service is so significant for people living with dementia. We will look at the impact of dementia on the wider health and social care system, and discuss the key considerations required when developing integrated plans.
Session facilitator: Alison Clowes, Local Systems Influencing Manager, Alzheimer’s Society.
Session 2 - The voices of people affected by dementia: The impact that services and support can have on our lives
Overview:
We will hear directly from people affected by dementia about how the disease has impacted on their lives. They will share their thoughts on their recommendations that will strengthen community support.
Chaired by: Sue Clarke, Regional Manager, Greater Manchester and speakers include Jagdish Brar-Orgill, Masood Ahmed Quereshi and Shakil Salam
Session 3 - The importance of high-quality dementia training for the whole workforce
Overview:
During this session you will find out what dementia training is and the benefits of it for different groups. You will hear how the Dementia Training Standards Framework should underpin the creation of high-quality dementia training and why this is important. You will hear from different sectors about how they have identified the need for dementia training in their workforce, and how they have implemented this.
Chaired by Sophie Tucker, Training and Partnerships Manager, Alzheimer’s Society