22/05/2026
As Dementia Action Week 2026 (18 – 24 May) draws to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on what the week has spotlighted – and what it means for the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector here in Essex.
Led by Alzheimer’s Society, this year’s campaign has been built around the Forget Me Not Appeal. Behind every Forget Me Not badge is a story of a life touched by dementia, and worn together they form a visible reminder that it will take a society to beat it.
Dementia is now the UK’s biggest killer. Every three minutes, someone in the UK develops the condition, and one in three people born today will go on to develop dementia in their lifetime. Yet despite this, around a third of people living with dementia have no formal diagnosis – meaning they are missing out on the treatment, advice, and support that can make such a difference.
For VCS organisations across Essex, this matters enormously. Whether your organisation directly supports people living with dementia, works with unpaid carers, runs befriending or social groups, or simply welcomes members of the public through your doors, you are part of a wider system of support that helps people live well with dementia.
Awareness weeks come and go, but dementia doesn’t follow a calendar. The most useful thing any organisation can do is turn this week’s prompts into longer-term practice. A few ideas to take forward:
Book in a Dementia Friends session. Alzheimer’s Society runs free online sessions of around 45 minutes that help staff and volunteers understand what it’s like to live with dementia, and the small things that can make a big difference. It’s an easy team activity to schedule in for the coming weeks.
Review your own practice. Take a fresh look at your communications, premises, and volunteer training through a dementia-friendly lens. Are your printed materials clear and accessible? Do your volunteers know how to respond if a service user becomes confused or disoriented?
Strengthen your signposting. Make sure your team know where to direct someone who is worried about their memory or supporting a family member through diagnosis. The Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Support Line (0333 150 3456) is a good place to start.
Keep the conversation going. A single social post during awareness week is helpful, but year-round visibility is what really shifts the dial. Consider how dementia awareness fits into your wider communications plan.
You can still get involved before the week ends, and the campaign resources remain useful long after. Visit the official Dementia Action Week page at alzheimers.org.uk/get-involved/dementia-action-week to share your Forget Me Not story or download materials.
