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Dementia Friendly Kent Awards

The Dementia Friendly Kent Awards 2024, as part of the Kent Living Well with Dementia Show, took place on 21 October at Valley Park School in Maidstone. Supported by school staff, students, and partners from the Kent Dementia Action Alliance, the event featured over 60 exhibitors from various sectors, sharing important resources and insights for dementia support.

The Dementia Friendly Kent Awards have been held every year since 2014 to recognise the efforts of individuals or groups building more inclusive communities for those affected by dementia. The awards are judged by individuals with lived experience of dementia and their caregivers, ensuring a true representation of grassroots impact.

This year's awards were presented by:

  • Dan Watkins, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Public Health
  • Dr. Afifa Qazi, Executive Medical Director and Consultant Psychiatrist
  • Dr. Adrian Richardson, Director of Partnerships and Transformation at Kent & Medway Mental Health NHS Trust (KMPT).

Award categories and winners

Most Inspiring Dementia Care Provider Award

Winner: Dementia Crisis Support Service Team

This award recognises a care service that delivers significant emotional and practical benefits for people living with dementia and their families. This service will be able to demonstrate engagement with national and local dementia best practice initiatives which enhance the quality of their care. Feedback from those receiving care and support from this service will be very positive.

Outstanding Contribution to Dementia Award

Winner: Jody Howie

This award recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution through practical and measurable actions to improve the quality of life of people living with dementia in our county. They will also have inspired others to follow their example through collaborative and supportive ideas and practice.

Dementia Friendly Organisation Award

Winner: Lighthouse Dementia Group on the Isle of Sheppey

This award recognises an organisation or business (public, private or voluntary sector, small or large) that has raised awareness of dementia through their internal teams and external contacts and has made specific improvements to benefit people affected by dementia who use their service. They will be able to describe what they did and the successes they have achieved.

Community and Partnership Project Award

Winner: Young Dementia Initiative

This award recognises those who have worked collaboratively with another organisation, community group or business to succeed in a project or initiative that has improved the lives of people living with dementia. They will be able to demonstrate how they approached partnership working, what they did, and how the project or initiative has succeeded.

Most Dementia Friendly Community Award

Winner: Hythe Dementia Forum

There are more than a dozen Dementia Friendly Community (DFC) or Dementia Action Alliance (DAA) groups across the county. This award recognises the valuable work these groups have achieved. The group will be able to demonstrate measurable success for initiatives they have undertaken to improve the lives of people living with dementia in their local area during 2023 and 2024.

Visit Kent Dementia Action Alliance for more information about the Dementia Friendly Kent Awards and the amazing work happening in the community.