Dementia Action Week 2025 (19th - 25th May 2025)
We want to start with a huge thank you to everyone who supported Dementia Action Week this year! While we can’t share every photo and story, the week was jam-packed with activity, and every action - big or small - helps to raise important awareness. Thank you for your support!
New Dementia Friends
We had set ourselves an ambitious target to welcome 7000 new Dementia Friends during the week this year. So far, over 5000 Dementia Friends have signed up during Dementia Action week by watching our online video or attending one of our information sessions delivered by our incredible Dementia Friends Ambassadors and Staff Deliverers. This number will continue to grow as we receive more data, but we think 5000 is a pretty impressive number!
Dementia Friends at Coety Primary School and Veteran footballers in the Inter City Bangla Cup
Among the new Dementia Friends were year 6 pupils at Coety Primary School in Wales who have been proudly wearing their badges.
Dementia Friends Ambassador Emdad hit an incredible milestone during the week – he has volunteered with Dementia Friends for an incredible 10 years! In one session during Dementia Action Week, Emdad welcomed an impressive 74 veteran footballers as Dementia Friends. Emdad said:
“Well done to all our veteran footballers in the Inter City Bangla Cup who are fully backing the fight against dementia.”
Dementia Friends Ambassador Ann also hit an incredible milestone during Dementia Action Week and has now delivered 200 Dementia Friends sessions and created well over 2000 Dementia Friends – amazing!
Eye catching displays
We saw libraries, hospitals and community hubs up and down the country ensure that dementia was the focus last week. By making useful information and personal stories of those living with dementia front and centre, we can help those affected by dementia feel more understood and less alone.
Thanks to Medway Libraries, Hillingdon Libraries, Wirral Libraries and Eltham Library
Communities coming together
Thatcham Town Council saw a brilliant community effort, with over 2000 forget me nots created by people in the local community as part of their Paint the Town Blue campaign for Dementia Action Week.
Rayleigh in Essex also went all out and decorated the local area with forget me nots and posters.
Denbigh in Wales asked local schools and care homes to create themed cards which were displayed in a shop window – what a beautiful way to catch the attention of passers-by!
Memories in the sand
Beadnell Bay in Northumberland celebrated Dementia Action Week with a beautiful sand art piece to demonstrate commitment to supporting all communities affected by dementia irrespective of their rurality. Members of the public added forget me nots and loved one’s names in the sand.
Thank you!
Of course, the activity featured here is just a small selection of the hundreds of events that took place during Dementia Action Week, so a huge thank you to every single person who was involved.
We couldn’t achieve what we do without our fantastic Dementia Friends and Ambassadors dedicating their time to spread our important message that everyone with dementia deserves to feel respected and part of their community. We know you have all reached so many people during Dementia Action Week and the impact you are making is significant.
Some fantastic discussions were had during sessions last week, including great examples of how to support people with dementia in our communities. One attendee said: “I currently visit and offer support to a neighbour living with dementia”.
Others pledged to ‘support and understand those with dementia’ and ‘raise awareness and remove stigma’.
A dementia diagnosis is vital
Diagnosis is vital to give people access to the care, treatment and support they desperately need. Yet, incredibly, 1 in 3 people with dementia do not have a diagnosis.
This year our Dementia Action Week campaign focussed on diagnosis and highlighting to audiences the most common symptoms of dementia. The need for action doesn’t stop after Dementia Action Week. You can help us continue to raise vital awareness by sharing our symptoms checklist with anyone who is worried about themselves or a loved one.
Alzheimer’s Society is here to support anyone affected by dementia. Please do reach out to our Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456 if you ever need advice or support, or visit alzheimers.org.uk
