Co-production and Involvement Approaches across the Eight UK Dementia Networks: Shared Insights, Challenges, and Lessons Learned, and application of the PRIME Framework (Participatory, Rights, Involvement, Mainstreaming, Embedding)
Parallel 5
18 November, 2026 2:10 – 3:20 pmMini Presentations: Group 2
Dr Clare Hammerton
Co-production and Involvement Lead
SPIN-Dementia Network
Summary
This presentation shares critical reflections and practical insights on co-production approaches to involve people living with dementia, carers, and diverse communities within the work of the eight UK Dementia Networks.
Since launching in 2024/2025, the Network have collaborated on sharing their approaches to building inclusive, sustainable networks. Their collective aim has been to establish best practices for meaningful involvement of people living with dementia and carers, while navigating the complexities of establishing and building national and internationally connected networks.
This presentation distils shared learning on key aspects such as governance structures, budget allocations, research commissioning, authorship, inclusion of people with advanced dementia, engagement with communities, and inclusive practices to involve people and carers from diverse backgrounds. It offers practical strategies for overcoming barriers and accelerating progress toward effective, sustainable, and inclusive dementia networks.
The Networks have also committed to collectively refine and apply the PRIME Framework (Participatory, Rights, Involvement, Mainstreaming, Embedding). This supports meaningful involvement by opening discussions and providing a structured approach to examining how involvement is reflected in organisational practices. It helps organisations build the systems needed to embed meaningful involvement while offering a practical mechanism for benchmarking progress.
Four Networks were launched in 2024, with strategic investment from UKRI Economic and Social Research Council (UKRI ESRC), the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and Alzheimer’s Society. These Networks are EMPOWER; EQUADEM; SPIN-D; and Working with Dementia– which focus on empowerment, equity, prevention, and employment in the context of dementia.
In 2025, a further four Networks were launched, with additional investment from NIHR, Alzheimer’s Society, and the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (UKRI EPSRC). These are the BRIDGES, CONSOLIDATE, TEDI, and ZeDTech, Networks- which focus on inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable technology solutions that support people to live more independently with dementia.
This presentation offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on how diverse, co-produced approaches to involvement are shaping dementia research, policy, and practice across the UK and globally. It will be of interest to researchers, practitioners, funders, and lived experience experts committed to inclusive, impactful collaboration.