New grants now available for people affected by dementia

Age Scotland and About Dementia have announced a new funding opportunity for people affected by dementia in Scotland.  

The peer-to-peer grants programme will allow people living with dementia and current or former unpaid carers to apply for grants of between £500 and £10,000, with £260,000 available in total.

The grants are designed to empower people with dementia and unpaid carers to create their own peer support activities and projects. These could be resources, community groups, research, pilot projects, or creative activities. These grants can also be used to enable ordinary activities that improve the quality of everyday life for people living with dementia and unpaid carers.

The fund is being delivered by About Dementia and Age Scotland as part of their Life Changes Trust legacy work. The programme is open-ended, with no deadline for applications, and grants will be available until March 2025 or until funds are exhausted. All applications are assessed by the About Dementia Grants and Learning coordinators alongside a panel of people living with dementia.

Mike Cheung, who lives with dementia and is a member of the funding assessment panel, said:

“The Peer-to-Peer Grants Programme is an excellent opportunity for people living with dementia, unpaid carers or supporters to apply for funding to develop projects and similar tasks to enhance their health and wellbeing.”

Kainde Manji, Head of Dementia at Age Scotland, commented:

“The Life Changes Trust supported some superb work by and for unpaid carers and people living with dementia, such as the “Dementia and Self-Management” resource created by the Scottish Dementia Alumni, and STAND’s “Journey to Activism” film. This fund is truly peer-to-peer, with funding only available to and assessed by those with lived experience of dementia. Who better to know what will make a difference than those who have been there? We’re excited to be launching this fund for people living with dementia and unpaid carers and are very much looking forward to receiving applications.”

For more information on the fund, requirements and how to apply, please visit age.scot/AboutDementia/peertopeer.

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