"I could create something joyful" - Salford's 'beacon of support' for people with dementia
Based in Salford, Dancing With Dementia operates at the heart of the community, offering vital support and joy to people living with dementia — and their families.
In this week’s newsletter, we take a closer look at a Salford-based initiative that has grown from a small act of kindness into a vital community service. Dancing With Dementia has become a beacon of joy and support for those living with dementia and their families, earning the 2024 King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
We also explore the opening of a new £2.5 million trampoline park in MediaCity, the launch of a new operation by Salford police targeting organised crime, and a local school’s efforts to create a greener future. Plus, don’t miss out on the free prom wear shop opening in Walkden and the exciting events taking place across Salford this week!
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“It’s memories, connection and love. That’s what Dancing With Dementia is all about."
In the heart of Swinton’s Grand Palais ballroom, the upbeat melodies of the '50s and '60s fill the air. Beneath glittering chandeliers couples sway, friends clap along and a woman in her 80s twirls, laughing like a schoolgirl. For the guests of Dancing With Dementia, these moments of joy are priceless. Here, dementia isn’t the focus—life is.
Lesley Fisher, one of the founders of Dancing With Dementia, looks on with pride. “This is why we started it,” she says. “To create a happy place where people can forget their worries, even for a little while.”
Since its modest beginnings in December 2016 at the Grand Palais, Dancing With Dementia has blossomed into a thriving community. The organisation now hosts six monthly events, supports over 300 people, and was recently honoured with the 2024 King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This prestigious accolade, often referred to as the "MBE for volunteer groups," underscores the charity’s transformative impact on the community.
For Lesley, the journey began with her sister Jean, a trailblazer in every sense of the word. Jean had been an advocate for family planning rights in the 1960s and a devoted educator who inspired many. But in 2014, Jean was diagnosed with lymphoma, followed by vascular dementia.
Support for her cancer journey was comprehensive: Macmillan nurses, counselling, even makeup tutorials and wig fittings were readily available. But when it came to dementia, it was a different story. Lesley recalls: “It felt like hitting a brick wall. We were handed a few leaflets and left to figure it out.”
Jean’s love of music and dance sparked an idea. Research showed the therapeutic power of these activities for people living with dementia, and Lesley realised she could do something meaningful for her sister and others in similar situations. “I couldn’t do anything medical, but I could create something joyful,” she says. With a ballroom dance teacher and a retired secretary, she secured a £300 grant to organise the first Dancing With Dementia session at the Grand Palais.
Dementia’s impact extends far beyond the individual, often isolating entire families. Psychiatric nurse John Alister Graham, who spent seven years on a dementia assessment unit, explains: "Families often become more isolated due to the nature of the illness. As the person with dementia becomes more ill, the family tends to stay at home more. The grief is ongoing—watching someone you love disappear in front of you while they’re still physically present is heart-breaking."
Graham also highlights the financial toll: "Carers often have to stop working to provide care, and the costs of nursing homes can lead to families losing their homes or savings." It’s precisely this combination of emotional, social, and financial challenges that Lesley wanted to address. “We wanted to create a space where families could come together, find support, and rediscover joy,” she says.
The early days were tough. Attendance was low and after three months the team considered giving up. “Then someone said, ‘I told you it wouldn’t work,’” Lesley laughs. “That was the push we needed.” The turning point came in March 2017, when they hired a live performer instead of relying on a DJ. “The difference was remarkable,” Lesley says. “Guests lit up — they clapped, sang, and danced.”
Among the smiling faces in the Grand Palais ballroom, Jules Gin claps along to the rhythm of the waltz, her mother swaying gracefully by her side. Jules has been part of Dancing With Dementia for over a decade, first accompanying her late father, who had dementia, and now sharing the experience with her mother. For her, these moments are precious lifelines. "Mum loves going—when we can get her here!" Jules shares with a laugh. "She’s been connected with Dancing With Dementia for about 13 years. They are so lovely there."
Today, the charity’s calendar is packed with events designed to bring people together. Weekly sessions at the Humphrey Booth Resource Centre on Worsley Road in Swinton feature live music, warm meals and access to professional support. Monthly lunch clubs at The Boundary Stone in Ellenbrook provide a relaxed setting for attendees to connect over meals and light entertainment. Meanwhile, the Grand Palais remains the heart of the operation, hosting glamorous ballroom socials.
Special outings add variety, with trips to Blackpool Tower Ballroom and large-scale community events like We Invented the Weekend at Salford Quays, where a joyous conga line of participants from all walks of life snaked through the plaza.
When the pandemic struck, the organisation adapted by delivering meals, hosting virtual sessions, and diversifying its offerings. “The pandemic was tough, but it made us more determined,” Lesley says. This resilience culminated in the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2024, the charity’s crowning achievement so far. For Lesley, the journey has been deeply personal. “This has been healing and rewarding. We’ve channelled our grief into positive memories for ourselves and others.”
With plans to expand partnerships with care homes, support “warm spaces” in Greater Manchester and collaborate internationally with groups like Purple Angels — a global campaign dedicated to raising dementia awareness and fostering dementia-friendly communities — Dancing With Dementia keeps demonstrating its worth to the Salford community.
Back at the Grand Palais, the final song of the afternoon begins—We Are Family by Sister Sledge. The vibrant disco beat pulses through the ballroom, weaving between laughter and the rhythmic clapping of hands, as attendees form a jubilant circle. At the centre, an elderly woman twirls slowly with a young volunteer, both grinning ear to ear. Nearby, a man in his 70s taps his cane in rhythm while his wife claps along, mouthing the lyrics: "We are family, I got all my sisters with me." For Dancing With Dementia, the song encapsulates everything they stand for: inclusivity, joy, and a sense of belonging. The laughter and movement echo through the ballroom, spreading a ripple of happiness that ties everyone together as part of this extraordinary community.
Lesley watches from the sidelines, smiling. “We wanted to create a happy place — just one dance a month in a beautiful ballroom,” she says. “Now, it’s so much more. It’s memories, connection and love. That’s what Dancing With Dementia is all about."
New state-of-the-art trampoline park in MediaCity opens doors
A new £2.5 million trampoline park, Oxygen Activeplay, has opened in MediaCity, Salford, offering a variety of attractions, including 24 trampolines, a mega-airbag, a high ropes course, and the Sky Rider aerial ride. Located at the former I’m a Celebrity Jungle Challenge site, this is the brand’s 10th facility across the UK.
The park features a dedicated Toddler Venture zone for children under five, as well as daily sessions for sensory and developmental needs. Additionally, Neon Night parties will be held on the first Friday of every month, with music, games and dancing for all ages.
CEO Stephen Wilson shared his excitement for the new opening, welcoming the local community just in time for the February half-term. Read more.
Eccles couple sentenced in £100,000 pensioner scam
A “heartless” Eccles couple have been sentenced after cheating their vulnerable 76-year-old neighbour out of over £100,000 in just two years.
Lee Hodson, 36, and his partner Jennifer Picken, 31, from Eccles, were arrested in 2021, following suspicious flagged activity on their 76-year-old victim’s bank account which involved a £230,742.19 withdrawal.
Detective Inspector Tim Flint, who leads a team of fraud detectives in GMP’s Economic Crime Team, described the fraud as ‘well-planned’ and ‘targeted’, adding: “It was heartless, and they preyed on him because of his age.
“Their despicable actions have had a devastating impact on the victim, who has now sadly passed away, and now his surviving relatives have had to endure a trial,” he added. Read more
Police launch new operation in Salford to crack down on organised crime
Salford police have launched a new operation in Little Hulton to address organised crime and anti-social behaviour. Working with local partners, the operation has already led to 25 arrests, 52 stop-searches and the seizure of nearly 100 weapons.
Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Humphreys stressed the importance of community involvement in disrupting crime. Read more.
Salford school creates new woodland area planting over 600 trees
Salford City Academy has planted over 600 trees with City of Trees, supporting Salford’s pledge to plant 8,000 trees by 2028. The project teaches students tree planting skills while improving green spaces.
The initiative includes woodland creation, fruit trees, and 16 semi-mature trees funded by the government’s Northern Forest programme. Pupils are learning about woodland design and tool handling.
City Mayor Paul Dennett praised the project for its impact on students and the environment, calling it a great step in tackling climate change and expanding Salford’s green spaces. Read more.
Free prom wear shop opens for young people of Salford
A free prom wear shop has opened in Walkden, providing young people in Salford with dresses, suits, shoes, bags, and jewellery at no cost. The pop-up shop is a collaboration between Salford Step into Action and Body Mind Educate.
The initiative aims to help young people celebrate prom without financial strain, with no criteria or proof of benefits required. Donations from the community have been essential, with organiser Becky saying, “We couldn’t do this without the community.”
Appointments are available on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but the shop is already booked until March 1. Those who can donate or help are encouraged to get involved. Read more.
What’s on in Salford this week
🏉 Salford Red Devils vs. Hull FC
Cheer on the Salford Red Devils as they face Hull FC in a thrilling rugby league match on February 22, 2025, at 3:00 PM at the Salford Community Stadium. Tickets and match information can be found on the Salford Red Devils' official website Find out more
🎤 Oslo Twins at The Eagle Inn
Enjoy live music with the Oslo Twins performing at The Eagle Inn on February 28, 2025. Doors open at 7:00 PM. For tickets and event details, visit The Eagle Inn's event page. Find out more
🧑🏾💼 GMCC Networking - Salford February 2025
Join the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce for a networking event on February 28, 2025, at The Alchemist Media City. A great opportunity to connect with local businesses. More information is available on the GMCC website. Find out more
Our photo of the week: St Luke’s Church in Weaste
St Luke’s Church in Weaste, known as the church on the hill, was designed in 1865 by Victorian architect George Gilbert Scott and is the church where suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst married her husband.
In 1980 St Luke’s was marked as a grade two listed building — but has since been placed onto the historic ‘buildings at risk’ register.
Reverend Jo Jarrett spoke about the importance the church has for the community, saying: “Salfordians like to use St Luke’s because they were baptised there, they got married there and then they want their funeral there, so it’s got historical importance for the families around.
“They want to come back to a place they have known and loved. So, for them not to be able to do that would have been a great sadness.”
The church now needs millions to find vital repairs. Read more
Thank you for reading.
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