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On Thursday 2nd July, I had the absolute privilege of being a guest on the iconic BBC Breakfast sofa on behalf of Dementia Disco CIO. Sitting there was another special milestone for our charity, giving me the chance to share the message that sits at the very heart of everything we do: life doesn’t stop with a dementia diagnosis!
Challenging Perceptions & Celebrating Possibility
Just six months ago, our appearance on BBC Breakfast’s Rise and Shine feature marked a massive turning point for us. That initial story was picked up by BBC North West Tonight and followed by an interview on BBC Radio Manchester, helping our message reach thousands of people.
Stepping into the studio on 2nd July wasn't simply another television interview for me, it was a vital opportunity to challenge national perceptions, celebrate possibility, and remind viewers across the country that dementia doesn't define a person.
I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to talk about our amazing charity and continue spreading an important message: you can live well with dementia. Together, we can challenge the stigma, celebrate what people can do, and help more people understand that a diagnosis doesn't mean life stops.
Beyond the Studio Broadcast
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the wonderful BBC Breakfast team for making me feel so welcome, with a special thank you to Jayne McCubbin, Naga Munchetty, and Charlie Stayt for helping us bring this vital conversation into living rooms right across the UK.
The conversation didn't end when the cameras stopped rolling, either.
Journalist Angela Ferguson featured Dementia Disco CIO in an in-depth online article for the BBC, exploring how music, movement, and community are helping people live well with dementia. I’m so grateful for this thoughtful coverage, which allows our message to reach even more people beyond the television broadcast.
📖 Read Angela Ferguson’s BBC feature: Click here to read the full article
A massive congratulations to Francesca Slattery (Chess) and Alex Cooke, who smashed the Stockport 10K!
Thanks to their incredible grit and your immense generosity, they raised an extraordinary £1,683.05 for Dementia Disco CIO. Every single kilometre tackled was a step towards keeping the music playing for those who need it most.
💜 Driven by Community Power
While Chess and Alex crossed the finish line, this achievement belongs to our entire community. You turned every mile into meaningful support by:
Donating generously to the cause
Buying raffle tickets to support the event
Sharing the campaign across social media
Cheering from the sidelines to keep spirits high
Special Thanks To:
The Crown Inn for generously hosting our fundraising raffle and opening their doors to our community.
Our Local Businesses for donating such fantastic raffle prizes and showing true local spirit.
🙏 A Huge Thank You
To everyone who supported this campaign: Thank you. 💜
To Chess and Alex: Thank you for choosing Dementia Disco CIO, carrying our cause across every kilometre, and proving that when a community comes together, the music really doesn't stop! 🎵✨
🎥 Watch the video below to celebrate this remarkable achievement with us!
https://youtube.com/shorts/HizxDa0tIeY?feature=share
🌟 Community Spotlight: Thank You to Our Incredible Supporters!
Here at Dementia Disco CIO, we are constantly humbled by the warmth, creativity, and generosity of our local community. Today, we are putting the spotlight on two fantastic groups whose amazing fundraising efforts are helping us keep the music playing and the dance floor buzzing!
⚜️ 1st Heaton Chapel Guides: Creativity with a Cause
Total Raised: £145.00
We want to send our massive thanks to the brilliant 1st Heaton Chapel Guides for their incredible donation of £145.00!
We were completely blown away to learn about the hard work, creativity, and enthusiasm the Guides poured into their social action campaigns this term. Sparked by an inspiring workshop with Beth from PiE. Raising £145 through their £1 tokens and cake sale was a fantastic achievement in itself, but for the Guides to then vote for Dementia Disco as their chosen charity means the absolute world to us.
A Special Celebration Night
On Friday 17th June, I was delighted to join their presentation evening alongside Navendu Mishra MP and Tranya Bennett (County Commissioner for Girlguiding Stockport). Hearing about all their hard work first-hand was wonderful, and getting to round off the evening by hosting a disco for everyone was the absolute icing on the cake!
Thank you to all the Guides and leaders for your kindness, energy, and brilliant community spirit. You are a real credit to Girlguiding Stockport! 💜
🏫 Cheadle Hulme High School: House Charity Champions
Total Raised: £370.79
A massive shout-out and thank you to Lizzie Faulkner and the amazing House team at Cheadle Hulme High School!
Dementia Disco was honoured to be chosen as one of their House charities this year. Thanks to the incredible efforts of students taking part in fundraising events and supporting non-uniform days, they raised a wonderful £370.79 for our cause!
Your support means the world to us and directly helps keep the dance floor buzzing for those living with dementia. Thank you so much for your brilliant efforts!
Thank you to all of our community heroes for keeping the music playing! 🎵🪩✨
We have two incredible fundraising opportunities coming up, and there are plenty of ways for you to get involved!
1. 🚲 Chris Valchero’s London to Brighton Bike Ride
When: Sunday 13th September
The Challenge: 54 Miles from London to Brighton
Our very own Chris Valchero is hopping in the saddle to take on the famous 54-mile London to Brighton Bike Ride to raise vital funds for Dementia Disco.
For Chris, this challenge is deeply personal.
Four years ago, her mum was diagnosed with dementia. ike so many families, they were faced with uncertainty and questions about what the future might hold. Then they discovered Dementia Disco.
What they found wasn't just a place to dance, they found a welcoming community, lasting friendships, and people who truly understand the journey they are on. One of Chris’s favourite moments is seeing her mum light up on the dancefloor. A lifelong line dancer, her mum is still thrilled to show off a grapevine and quarter turn whenever the music plays! They even shared a memorable dance with Andy Burnham when he visited one of our discos last year, a moment they’ll never forget (see photo of Sally and Andy above).
How You Can Support Chris:
Now, Chris wants to give back so that other families can experience the same joy, connection, and support. Every pound raised will help provide inclusive discos, welcoming spaces, great music, and free refreshments.
💳 Donate: Support Chris directly via her JustGiving Page.
2. ⚽ Sportsman's Dinner at Ladybridge Park Residents Club
When: Friday 9th October 2026 (7:00pm for a 7:30pm start)
Where: Ladybridge Park Residents Club, Edenbridge Road, Cheadle Hulme, SK8 5PX
Tickets: £50 per person (includes a 3-course meal)
How to Book: Call 0161 485 1188 or visit the club directly (£20 deposit required)
As the host venue for our Cheadle disco, the team at Ladybridge Park Residents Club have seen first-hand the joy, connection, and positive impact our sessions bring to the community. That’s why they are generously hosting an unforgettable Sportsman's Dinner in support of Dementia Disco!
It promises to be a fantastic evening of entertainment, laughter, and great food, all for a brilliant cause.
Evening Highlights:
⚽ Guest Speaker: Football legend Matt Le Tissier
🎤 Compere: The brilliant Andy Powell
😂 Comedian: The hilarious John Stiles
🍽️ 3-Course Meal Included (Please advise of any vegetarian or dietary requirements when booking)
🎟️ Auction & Raffle: Your chance to win some fantastic prizes!
Ticket Details & Booking
Tickets are £50 per person, and with limited availability, they are expected to sell fast!
To secure your place, a £20 deposit is required. You can purchase tickets by calling the club on 0161 485 1188 or popping into the club in person.
We're absolutely thrilled to share the fantastic news about our brand-new venue launch! On Saturday 4th July, we headed down to Smithy’s Bar at Shrewsbury Town Football Club for the very first Shrewsbury Dementia Disco, and what a brilliant evening of music, laughter, and togetherness it was!
This new monthly session is delivered in exciting collaboration between Dementia Disco CIO and the Shrewsbury Town Foundation.
💙 How it Came Together
The idea for bringing Dementia Disco to Shrewsbury grew straight from the heart of the local community. As Ruth Pemberton, Events and Fundraising Officer at Shrewsbury Town Football Club, shared:
"I had the pleasure of helping Liz and Debbie get the Dementia Disco off the ground. As both Debbie and Liz’s husband use our Dementia Hub and Extra Time Hub at Smithy’s Bar, it just felt right to host the disco there too.
The Dementia Disco takes place on the first Saturday of every month from 6pm until 8pm. It’s a chance for people living with dementia and their families to come together, enjoy great music, food, and good company at a time when weekend support can often be limited."
We would also like to extend our immense gratitude to Richard Bevan OBE, whose generous donation kindly covered the full cost of funding our launch night!
📅 Event Details: What to Expect
Our monthly Shrewsbury discos are completely free to attend and open to everyone affected by dementia, including carers, family members, friends, and children!
🗓️ Save the Date for the Next Disco!
Our next Shrewsbury session is just around the corner, and we can’t wait to welcome both familiar faces and new friends to the dancefloor:
Next Date: Saturday 1st August 2026
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
How to Book & Get in Touch
Entry is completely free, but booking helps us manage numbers and catering!
🎟️ Book Free Tickets: Visit www.dementiadisco.org or scan the QR code on our event flyers.
A massive thank you to our lead volunteers Debbie and Liz everyone at Shrewsbury Town Foundation, our organizers, and our generous donors for helping us keep the music playing where it matters most 💙💛✨
A New Chapter for Dementia Disco in Oxfordshire
What a fantastic way to launch our newest Dementia Disco in Oxfordshire! Our first event was filled with music, laughter, dancing and, most importantly, meaningful moments shared by people living with dementia, their families, carers and friends.
Our new Oxfordshire Disco has been made possible through our partnership with Dorchester Living and Dementia Oxfordshire, bringing together local businesses and existing dementia support services to create a welcoming, inclusive space where people affected by dementia can connect, have fun and simply enjoy being together.
These partnerships are a wonderful example of what can be achieved when charities, local organisations and businesses work together with a shared goal of creating more inclusive communities. By combining our strengths, we’re able to reach more people and provide opportunities for joy, friendship and support.
The launch event was a huge success, and we’d like to thank everyone who came along, danced, sang, smiled and helped make it such a memorable evening. Your enthusiasm and warmth made the disco exactly what it is meant to be, a place where people can leave their worries at the door and enjoy the moment.
One conversation at the end of the evening perfectly captured why Dementia Disco exists. Richard, who attended the launch, came over to Nick and said:
“Thank you. For a while there I forgot about my disease.”
Those simple words remind us that Dementia Disco is about so much more than music. It’s about creating moments of freedom, connection and happiness that stay with people long after the final song has played.
Our Oxfordshire Dementia Disco takes place on the first Friday of every month from 5.00pm to 7.00pm at Exeter Hall, Oxford Road, Kidlington. The disco is free to attend for people living with dementia, their carers, family and friends, with a free meal, tea and coffee provided.
We can’t wait to do it all again and look forward to welcoming both familiar and new faces to the dance floor in the months ahead.
To join us at the Oxford disco next time:
🎟️ Book Free Tickets: Visit www.dementiadisco.org or scan the QR code on our event flyers.
Our vision is a world where every person living with dementia can experience the joy of music and dance.
Our mission is to bring everyone affected by dementia into a joyful rebellion through a national network of inclusive discos where music, dance, and human connection help people live well every day.
Until the next time keep dancing!
Kate x
