Community Compassion and Continuity: Evaluating Beacon’s Model of Support for Families Affected by Dementia in Rossendale, East Lancashire

Parallel 1

17 November, 2026 12:00 – 1:10 pm

Mini Presentations Group 1

Rachel Yates Hoyles

 Trustee 

 Beacon Dementia and Wellbeing 

About

Lisa Markey

 Dementia Project Coordinator 

 Beacon Dementia and Wellbeing 

About

Summary

This presentation shares the story and emerging learning from Beacon Dementia and Wellbeing, a community-rooted charity supporting people living with dementia and the families around them. It will explore Beacon’s model of “walking with and alongside” families through building trusted relationships, advocacy, emotional support and compassionate presence.
The session will highlight how Beacon has grown with and alongside its community, shaped by lived experience and family need. It will include the UK’s first dementia-friendly community shed, where people living with dementia come to make, mend and simply be with others. It will also outline how we are evaluating this relationship-based model to understand its impact on people living with dementia, carers and families. Attendees will gain insight into a community-led approach that shows how trust, continuity and connection can create strong foundations of support.

Return to the Programme