Researcher and Community Partnerships Event- House of Memories

The first EMPOWER-funded project in-person event brought together researchers, practitioners, policy makers, local community organisations, and people with lived experience of dementia to share learning, build connections, and explore ways to address inequalities in dementia care and support. The event platformed and highlighted best practice in partnerships between researchers and community organisations.

By Lizzie Ward, Dawn Carroll, Laura Jennings, and Ankita Bhojwani

On 16th October, we launched the first of our seven EMPOWER-funded research project community events at the Museum of Liverpool. The theme of the event was around research and community partnerships, and the activities on the day highlighted the vital role of collaboration and co-production in dementia research. The event brought together people living with dementia, carers, community organisations, researchers, and practitioners from Liverpool and beyond to share experiences, learn from one another, and celebrate the inspiring work taking place across the region.

We began with an introduction from Dawn Carroll, who showcased the long-standing work of House of Memories in creating meaningful experiences for people affected by dementia. Participants learned about their popular memory suitcases, which contain everyday objects designed to spark conversations and memories, as well as the My House of Memories app, a digital ‘museum in your pocket’ featuring music, sound effects, videos, and images to support reminiscence and social connection.

Dawn also introduced House of Memories’ EMPOWER-funded research project, which will work alongside African and Caribbean communities to develop culturally meaningful dementia resources. Through community-led co-creation workshops, the project will refresh existing content on the app, create new bilingual memory resources, and support greater confidence in delivering person-centred care across diverse communities.

The local dementia landscape was explored by Emma Ciclitira, Senior Public Health Practitioner and Lead for NIHR Public Health Engagement in Liverpool. Emma outlined the city’s Dementia Strategic Action Plan. Her presentation highlighted Liverpool’s coordinated approach to improving prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and support for people living with dementia and their carers.

We also heard from colleagues at the University of Liverpool about innovative work addressing inequalities in dementia care. Clarissa Giebel shared how her team is building dementia awareness through accessible community resources, including educational games designed for both children and adults.

Debra Blakemore-Collins from Dementia Friendly Netherton presented a community-led approach that uses storytelling and creative health methods to tackle health inequalities. Working closely with people affected by dementia, her team has co-developed a hyper-local roadmap covering the entire dementia journey, from prevention and diagnosis through to living, supporting, and dying well.

The afternoon included inspiring contributions from the Balbir Singh Dance Company, who shared their compassionate and creative approach to engaging people with dementia through dance and self-expression. A moving and reflective dance performance during lunch was enjoyed by all.

We also heard from Marcus Hansen from Green Letter Days, whose work supports people living with dementia to remain active outdoors while offering valuable respite opportunities for carers. Marcus and his team are working on an evaluation of Green Letter Days, which is another research project funded by the EMPOWER Network.

One of the highlights of the day was the memory boxes placed on each table. Filled with items such as roller skates, cassette tapes, vintage magazines, and train tickets, they sparked conversations, reminiscence, and shared stories throughout the room.

The event concluded with a knowledge-sharing workshop activity for the funded project teams, exploring how culture can be used as a creative research methodology in dementia research. Discussions ranged from sharing culturally relevant food during research activities to recognising spiritual practices and using meaningful objects to prompt conversations about dementia experiences and care.

The day generated valuable new connections, demonstrating the power of bringing together people with shared interests and a common commitment to improving dementia research and support. A huge thank you to our colleagues at House of Memories for hosting such a thoughtful and inspiring event and helping us begin the EMPOWER funded project event series in such a memorable way!