Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Public lecture to explore why being dementia-friendly matters
The lecture, which forms part of Leeds Beckett’s Dementia Awareness Week programme, will take place on Monday 16 May from 5.30pm – 7pm at the Rose Bowl.
Dementia awareness campaigner Wendy Sharps, Nicky Taylor, the Community Development Manager at West Yorkshire Playhouse and Claire Surr, Professor of Dementia Studies at Leeds Beckett, will all give short presentations discussing why it is important to have a dementia-friendly society.
Wendy Sharps is an active campaigner in making people aware about dementia and in promoting a positive outlook on life. She was diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2009 at the age of 40. She has two daughters, Shauna and Kayleigh, and a husband, Paul. Wendy will talk about some of the difficulties she experiences whilst living with dementia, the importance of staying positive and how supportive services make a difference to her.
Nicky Taylor is the Community Development Manager at the West Yorkshire Playhouse. She will talk about the approaches the Playhouse have taken to develop special ‘dementia-friendly’ performances of plays and the impact this has had on people living with dementia and their families.
Claire Surr is Professor of Dementia Studies at Leeds Beckett University. She is leading a number of research projects that aim to improve services and support for people with dementia and their families. Claire will provide a summary of why it is important that we live in a society which is dementia-friendly and where all of us are dementia-aware. She will provide a short outline of how Leeds Beckett is currently working to become dementia-friendly.
The lecture will close with opportunity for audience questions and discussion.
Led by Leeds Beckett’s Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Dementia Awareness Week will run from Monday 16 May to Friday 20 May. For the full schedule of events visit: http://bit.ly/LeedsBeckettDementia.
Acclaimed Leeds playwright, Brian Daniels, will hold two public performances of his play about early onset dementia, ‘Don’t leave me now’, on Tuesday 17 May. A cast of five professional actors will be performing a dramatised ‘script in hand’ reading of the play which explores, with humour and insight, the impact on two very different Yorkshire families, before and after, an early onset dementia diagnosis.
Throughout the week there will be five ‘Dementia Friends’ sessions where attendees will learn more about dementia and how to help create dementia-friendly communities. Sessions are open to the public and available across the University’s city and Headingley campuses and at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
The week will also see a range of lunchtime ‘quick-bite’ research seminars, where people are encouraged to bring their lunch and listen to a short overview of some of the dementia-related research that is taking place at Leeds Beckett University and other institutions in the region.
Places for the events are limited and booking via the above link is required. For any enquiries please contact dementia@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.
*Title image photograph used courtesy of Dr. Cathy Greenblat