You can help to make dementia a priority by joining our campaigns

We campaign at local and national levels to make dementia a priority, and we couldn’t do this without our brilliant campaigners. 

Anyone can be a campaigner – whether you want a reformed social care system or more funding for dementia research. All it takes is passion. 

Not sure where to start? Here are just some of the ways you could help:

Contact your MP

MPs have the influence to make real change – so do all the other people elected to represent you at various levels. 

Writing to your elected representatives is a good way to get dementia on the agenda and keep it there.

If you can meet them in person to encourage them to make dementia a priority, even better. 

Add your name 

Petitions and open letters are effective ways to call on governments and other organisations to act. 

They show strength of feeling about an issue, especially when supported by thousands of people.

The names all add up, so adding yours counts!

Your story has power 

Sharing your experiences is a powerful way to convince people about what needs to change. 

We share many opportunities to do this with our campaigners, whether by contributing to evidence or speaking with decision-makers directly. 

Why campaign?

Versha Patel, whose late mum Sitaben had vascular dementia, says, ‘Whilst caring for my mum, the word “dementia” was like an outcast within our Indian community. 

With a lack of understanding, I felt the stigma would continue to grow. This is where my campaign journey started.

Eamonn Dobbyn, who shared his experience of young-onset dementia in the House of Commons last spring, says, ‘Many people don’t understand that dementia is a terminal illness, the government fails to acknowledge this as well. 

Help for people after they are diagnosed is lacking, it needs to be stepped up. Personally, I felt like I had been written off.

‘There is no face of dementia, it is a silent and invisible illness. It is about making people understand that. This is why I’ve put myself forward to research and campaign with Alzheimer’s Society.’ 

Paul Kemp and his wife Sandra delivered an open letter calling on the health secretary to make dementia a priority. He says, ‘I campaign because of the length of time it took to get a diagnosis for Sandra, to find out that the only treatment available is three tablets. 

‘This is when I discovered Alzheimer’s Society and their commitment to better diagnosis and new and better treatments. 

This disease waits for nothing and no one, and Alzheimer’s Society’s actions speak louder than any other words that I’ve heard.