Dementia Community Champions continue to increase knowledge and understanding of dementia in Leicester

Leicester-based charity, Reaching People is working with Alzheimer’s Research UK to deliver the Dementia Community Champions programme in Leicester. 

 

Dementia Champions group are volunteers trained by Alzheimer’s Research UK to increase knowledge and understanding of dementia, its causes, symptoms, and diagnosis, brain health and the steps we can all take to reduce our risk of getting dementia and the importance of taking part in research. 

 

Dementia awareness events will be taking place across Belgrave, Hamilton, Rushey Mead, Highfields and Evington between May and October 2025. Dementia Community Champions will be sharing information, leaflets and other resources about dementia, speaking to local people about their experiences of dementia and signposting them to appropriate support. 

 

This is important because people from South Asian backgrounds are at a higher risk of developing dementia. While the reasons for this are not fully understood, certain cultural and social factors, as well as higher risks of other health conditions like diabetes and stroke, may play a role. Additionally, people from minority ethnic communities are often underserved in terms of access to health information, research and support. 

 

Reports have highlighted delays in seeking and receiving a dementia diagnosis for people from South Asian backgrounds, as well as worse long-term health outcomes. Furthermore, few people from South Asian backgrounds participate in medical research studies, which means that research findings may not fully represent these groups. 

 

For more information on the initiative, please contact Bharti Mistry on 07308 146194 or via email at bharti@reachingpeople.co.uk 

 

Bharti Mistry, Project Lead for the Dementia Community Champions project at Reaching People said: “This project is vital to help us raise awareness of the risks of and support available for dementia within south Asian communities in Leicester. Projects such as Dementia Community Champions will help us to overcome health inequalities and support everyone impacted by dementia.” 

 

Samantha Turner, Dementia Community Champions Manager at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “We are delighted to see Reaching People stand with us to roll out Dementia Community Champions in Leicester. Addressing health inequalities around dementia is crucial to ensuring that everyone has access to information on treatments, diagnosis, prevention, and how to take part in research. 

 

“Reaching People will help us to share vital information within local communities, reduce stigma around dementia and work to improve representation of people from South Asian communities in research studies.”