Mayor Andy Burnham Supports Dementia Disco Expansion with Visit to Heaton Mersey
On the evening of Saturday 22nd November, the atmosphere at the Heaton Mersey Dementia Disco was electric, and not just because of the disco lights! We were incredibly honoured and privileged to welcome a very special guest: Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Arriving at 5pm, the Mayor was wonderful from the moment he walked through the door, immediately engaging with disco-goers, their families, and carers. He spent a full 45 minutes immersing himself in the vibrant, inclusive spirit that defines our discos.
Dancing with the Queen
The highlight of the evening, captured in a wonderful moment of community spirit, was when the Mayor took to the dance floor. He was led by our very own Line Dancing Queen, Sally, and enjoyed an impromptu dance to the country classic, 'Elvira'. The genuine joy and connection on the dance floor demonstrated exactly why these nights are so special.
A Pledge for Greater Manchester
Following his time chatting and dancing, Andy gave a truly heartfelt and uplifting speech. He spoke about how much he enjoyed being at the disco, praising the energy and the importance of the safe, welcoming space we create.
Crucially, the Mayor used his visit to make a strong commitment: he wants to see the Dementia Disco model rolled out right across Greater Manchester.
His speech highlighted that this is more than just a dance; this is life-changing social connection and support. The positive impact on the health and well-being of people living with dementia, and their carers, is clear to see. He is very keen to ensure that every borough in Greater Manchester has access to this kind of joyful, inclusive community space.
Looking to the Future
Andy Burnham's dedication to making Greater Manchester the UK's first dementia-friendly city region is well-known, and his visit to Heaton Mersey strongly reinforced that commitment to grassroots initiatives that genuinely improve lives. His support gives us immense hope and momentum as we work towards expanding our reach.
We look forward to working with our partners in the region to make our vision of Dementia Discos across Greater Manchester a reality, bringing more music, movement, and vital social connection to our communities.
Watch his full speech here: https://youtube.com/shorts/OQJtEAdiqnM?feature=share
You can also watch the moment the Mayor hits the dance floor here: https://youtube.com/shorts/WV4WmQrwdYs?feature=share
We brought our signature sparkle and an array of wonderful goods to the Proper Good Pop Up Shop in Stockport's Merseyway Shopping Centre, running from Tuesday 18th November to Sunday 23rd November.
This fantastic opportunity was made possible through a collaboration with Sector 3, who expertly organised the shop and invited a host of incredible Social Enterprises and Enterprising Charities to showcase their work and sell their products.
A Week of Social Enterprise Celebration
Sector 3 chose this particular week to host the pop-up because it coincided with a very special date: National Social Enterprise Day on Thursday, November 20th!
The week was a brilliant celebration of businesses that do good, culminating in a well-deserved, "Proper Good" evening out. We all gathered at The Runaway Brewery in Stockport that evening to enjoy some celebratory drinks and pizza and reflect on our successful week.
Spreading Joy and Boosting Sales
Kate, ‘I had an absolutely amazing time at the shop. I loved the opportunity connect with customers, talk to them about Dementia Disco, and work the till.’
The week also proved to be lucrative for us, as we sold a lots of merchandise. Our undisputed success was the Dementia Disco Christmas cards, which were our best-seller! The success of the shop provides vital funds to continue our important work.
A Community of Amazing Organizations
The spirit of collaboration and shared purpose was palpable, making the experience truly wonderful. We were thrilled to be surrounded by so many inspiring, like-minded organisations, all dedicated to making a positive difference.
The pop-up shop was a hub of "proper good" activity, featuring stalls from:
The Proper Good Pop Up Shop was a testament to the power of social enterprise in Stockport, and our participation was a resounding success, proving that doing good and selling great products go hand-in-hand!
On 17th and 18th November, Nick Shaw, our co-founder and trustee, was lucky enough to attend the 19th UK Dementia Congress at the fabulous Bridgewater Hall. Here is Nick to tell you all about it.
It was a truly inspiring and enjoyable two days, and I was able to meet some brilliant people working to achieve the same goals as the Dementia Disco: bringing joy to people living with dementia. I left the Congress with my head full of ideas for ways we can continue to develop the work of Dementia Disco in the future.
Reflecting on the Congress in the days after the event, the main thing I took from the event were the voices of the people living with dementia, which rang through almost
every session I attended. Our mission at Dementia Disco is to change the popular narrative and to spread the word that it is possible to live well with dementia, and that was precisely what I heard from the speakers on the first two panels: people who were living with dementia, and remain actively involved in their own care and their own experiences. Their message was clear: it is vital that we don’t underestimate the ability of people living with dementia to do things, especially things which they have enjoyed doing throughout their lives.
A major inspiration to me was listening to Peter Middleton talk so passionately about the latest innovations in technology to support people living with dementia, something he clearly knew far more about than I do! Peter is living with dementia, and he has lost none of his passion and understanding of how technology can (and should) be used to make life easier and better. After his panel session was over, I made sure I found him and we had a brilliant conversation about a potential new idea I have for the Dementia Disco. I’m very grateful for his time and wisdom.
Another highlight was performing on the main stage at the Bridgewater Hall with the Manchester Camerata, as part of their session on the superb Music in Mind events they run. I’m not sure I’ll be invited back though, seeing as I only picked up two glockenspiel bars, so I could only play two notes! It was such a joyful, inclusive and collaborative experience though, no-one minded (or at least they were polite enough not to say!).
Overall, it was a privilege to attend the Congress and to meet so many wonderful people. I can’t wait until the next Congress (the 20th anniversary), when we are hoping that Dementia Disco can have an even bigger part to play.
For more information about the congress, check out their website here:
UK Dementia Congress – Dementia Community
