Understanding Dementia: Real Support, Real Stories, Real Change

In this second episode of the our third season, host Andy Baker is joined by Jill Quinn MBE, founder and CEO of Dementia Forward, a Yorkshire-based charity that has grown from a small, passionate team into a nationally recognised organisation supporting nearly 5,000 families affected by dementia.

Together, Andy and Jill explore how grassroots action, community values, and wraparound support are shaping a new standard for dementia care—and how Able Training and Dementia Forward are partnering to raise awareness and push for meaningful change.

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👥 In this episode, we discuss:

• Jill’s journey from retail manager to founder of an award-winning dementia charity

• The realities of starting small but thinking big—and why local impact matters

• The stigma and misconceptions around dementia, especially in younger people

• Why early support and education can change the entire trajectory of a diagnosis

• The importance of personalised care, meaningful activities, and ongoing emotional support

• The story behind the You & Me Campaign and the growing movement for Young Onset Dementia

• Details of the National Young Onset Dementia Conference at Elland Road Stadium

• How volunteers, carers, and teachers all play a vital role in supporting those with dementia

• Why Jill believes the charity sector needs more confidence, collaboration, and creativity

• The launch of Hat Day during Dementia Action Week—and how you can get involved

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💡 Key Takeaways:

✅ Awareness is prevention. Families that connect with support earlier are less likely to experience crisis—and more likely to thrive.

✅ Young onset dementia is often overlooked. A lack of national data, strategy, and targeted care leaves many families unsupported. Jill shares how Dementia Forward is leading the charge to change this.

✅ Local support, national model. Dementia Forward’s wraparound service—from diagnosis to end of life—offers a powerful example of how community-first care can scale.

✅ You don’t need to be a national organisation to make national impact. Jill’s message to small charities is simple: keep going, keep sharing, and don’t underestimate the power of what you’re doing.

✅ Partnership is powerful. The new collaboration between Able Training and Dementia Forward aims to increase access to training, raise awareness, and create a stronger network of support for families, professionals, and volunteers alike.

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📌 Featured Initiatives:

🎩 Hat Day – “Don’t Keep Dementia Under Your Hat”
Taking place during Dementia Action Week in May, Hat Day is a fun, visual campaign encouraging people to wear hats, start conversations, and raise both awareness and funds for dementia support. Schools, surgeries, and communities are already signing up—why not join in?

🎶 The You & Me Campaign
Launched with the help of Jonathan Beardsworth, a former music exec diagnosed with young onset dementia, this campaign includes an original track, a growing awareness movement, and an annual national Young Onset Dementia Conference—taking place this year at Elland Road with support from Care England.

🏫 Centre of Excellence for Young Onset Dementia
Dementia Forward’s newest project aims to bring together training, research, and lived experience to create a national model of support. In partnership with Leeds Beckett University and Able Training, the centre will serve as a hub for innovation, learning, and influence.

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🔗 Links & Resources:

• 🧠 Dementia Forward Website: https://www.dementiaforward.org.uk

• ☎️ Dementia Forward Helpline: 03300 578592

• 📘 Andy’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

• 🧰 Able Training Courses: click here

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💬 Join the Conversation

Whether you’re a carer, teacher, parent, or just someone who wants to better understand dementia—you’re part of this movement. Share your thoughts, wear a hat, start a conversation, and help us make care better for everyone.

📲 Follow, subscribe, and leave a review to help more people discover the podcast.
🔁 Share this episode with a friend, colleague, or loved one—it might be the conversation that changes everything.

🎧 Able to Care Podcast – Season 3 is here, and we’re just getting started.