Dementia Trust

Who we are

The Dementia Trust is a leading charity registered in Scotland with UK reach and dedicated to supporting individuals living with dementia, their families, and carers.

Our mission is to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers, to support scientific excellence, to operate with the highest standards of integrity and independence and to work with partners who value collaboration and respect.

Our culture and values

The Charity was founded in 1988 by a group of volunteers aiming to improve services for people with dementia and their carers.

A primary aim was the creation of a Dementia Services Development Centre, now part of the University of Stirling, which inspired similar centres across the UK, Ireland, and as far as Australia.

Over time, the Trust expanded its focus to include wider community engagement and direct support for families affected by dementia. It now oversees various initiatives, including the Disruption Awards, which fund innovative ideas for dementia care. The Trust plans to launch a new Impact Accelerator Award programme in 2026 to support social research initiatives.

A fundamental goal of the Trust is to improve public understanding of dementia, achieved through research and evidence-based teaching.

In 2024, the Board began developing a new strategy, with the evolving Vision for the Charity:

A world where people with dementia and their carers thrive, supported by innovative solutions and empowered by our grants and dedicated support to make meaningful change happen.