Members of the Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG) and the National Dementia Carers Action Network (NDCAN) were delighted to attend the 10-year celebration of the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice (ASCPP) at the University of the West of Scotland’s Paisley campus on 22 March 2023. It was a wonderful opportunity to recall a decade of achievements; to hear from the Centre’s staff, students and partners, both from home and around the world; and to look to the future.
Since opening in 2013, the Centre has been at the forefront of driving forward research-informed dementia education; driving up standards in hospital dementia care; and championing innovative dementia research and practice. Lived experience has been central to the work of the ASCPP over the last 10 years and the involvement of SDWG and NDCAN members has been key to the success of initiatives such as the Dementia Champions Programme, which has prepared over 1,100 Dementia Champions committed to improving the care and experience of dementia patients in the area where they work. Through their partnership with the Centre, SDWG and NDCAN members have contributed to research and supported students both as advisors and co-researchers.
They have worked with members of the Centre to develop research ideas and have helped to ensure the research carried out by ASCPP students is useful and makes a meaningful difference. SDWG and NDCAN members value their partnership with the ASCPP and said that it has been a privilege to have been with the Centre every step of the way over the last 10 years. They also said that it was an honour for each Group to receive ‘Inspiring People’ awards in recognition of their collaboration with the Centre and contribution to all that has been achieved over the decade. “We look forward to the next 10 years as our partnership goes from strength to strength!”