Supporting People with Young Onset Dementia
Peer Support for People with Young Onset dementia & Family Carers
In 2024, Tide (Together in Dementia Everyday) in partnership with the Alzheimers Society were successful in their application for a Disruption Award through their Young Onset Dementia project for people in Merseyside and their carers. With their award they were able to start in-person peer support groups at the Liverpool Central Library for better accessibility through public transport access. The group host monthly gatherings for carers on Saturdays, addressing the issue that many family carers work throughout the week and may find the weekends a particularly lonely time.
Progress & Development
The Liverpool group sees a regular 20 people with dementia and family carers attending their meetings, which has supported conversations about dementia to every day, normal life. Many of the participants travel quite a distance to take part in the monthly meet-ups as they have found little support or groups they can access in their own areas. The Tide group have spread a message to help inform those in the dementia community of their purpose through a simple message, “If you received your diagnosis before you were 65 years old, and you can get here, you are welcome.”.
The group is now recognised as a local resource, receiving referrals from community groups and mental health support groups. A recent meeting with the Deputy Chief Executive in Liverpool and the Commissioning Manager for Social Care, proved hugely valuable to group members who were able to directly raise issues the community faces and how they could be better supported.
Individuals from the group have shared how Tide has impacted them and provided a safe place where support, guidance and information can be shared in both a professional and sociable way.
“I searched everywhere for something that was for people of my age and found this group… I felt really excited after the first meeting – you made me so welcome”
“When we received the diagnosis, we were bombarded with leaflets but what I really needed was someone to talk to.”
“I love the camaraderie. Being with people who understand, so you don’t have to explain.”
ABOUT THE DISRUPTION AWARDS
The Dementia Trust created the Disruption Awards to back projects that do more than make small improvements – we look for ideas that shake things up. Our focus is on:
Fresh perspectives on everyday challenges of dementia
Co-creation with people who live the experience
Reaching overlooked communities who too often miss out
Sharing learning openly so good ideas travel fast
In 2025, we received 22 applications requesting over £400,000 in funding – more than eight times what we could award. Our Disruption Awards Panel, which included Professor Eddie Duncan, Dr Peter Murdoch, and our Advisor Sonia Mangan, carefully reviewed every submission on behalf of the Board.
GET INVOLVED
The Disruption Awards are funded entirely through the generosity of our supporters. If you believe in backing bold ideas for dementia, here’s how you can help:
🔗 Read about all our winners: dementiatrust.org/disruption-awards/past-awards
💌 Sign up for updates: Hear how these projects progress and learn from their impact
💙 Donate or become a Friend: Help us fund even more breakthrough projects next year
