Swinton-based charity Dancing with Dementia has been awarded The King’s Award 2024 for their outstanding Voluntary Service for the community.
The group will receive the highest award a local voluntary groups can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
The charity is one of the 281 local charities selected for the award – with social enterprises and voluntary groups set to receive the prestigious award.
The Dancing with Dementia charity has been a vital service to the community in Salford, and has been able to prolong the lives of people living with dementia, their family, friends and carers through music and dance.
The charity has been essential in helping anyone who feels lonely or isolated and encourage them to come along to our sessions and have fun, make new friends.
The group has been running since 2015, running a trial event in The Grand Palais a local ballroom before officially opening in February 2016, and by the March 2020 the charity had over one hundred guests coming to the events.
Lesley Fisher first came up with the idea whilst her sister was diagnosed with vascular dementia and wanted to do something to help.
As she added: “I couldn’t help medically but maybe I could help with the social aspect. I loved dancing and spoke to a friend who was a dance teacher.
“Her Mum had passed with Dementia and knew the isolation and the trauma of the condition for all the family.”
And from then on the charity has been able to provide so much to people in the local community, but also offered a ‘lifeline’ for Lesley, who added: “On a personal level the founding of Dancing with Dementia has given me a lifeline to share experiences with others on the same journey.
“The support that is given and shared has made many of the journeys by our guests easier knowing they are not alone and their feelings are understood and the empathy that is shared is almost tangible.”
She continued: “We share great joy of shared memories and create new memories and new friendships.
“Volunteering has opened many opportunities and we have met some truly amazing people on the way, it has been nine years of growing within the community, I am so proud of what we have achieved.”
Hosting six events a month reaching over 300 guests over that period, the charity have had a lot of influence on the local community.
Currently the charity also work with and support three hospital dementia units at Salford Royal, Bolton, Royal and the Woodland Hospital in Little Hulton.
With the charity providing them with comfort blankets, twiddle muffs, toiletries, gifts for raffles soft toys for sensory work and craft items.
The charity will receive the award, but have been announced in line with the King’s birthday.
Representatives form Dancing with Dementia will receive the award crystal and certification from Diane Hawkins, Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester later this summer.
As well as that two volunteers from Dancing with Dementia will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2025, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
The charity are extremely grateful to receive The King’s Award this year, and will continue to serve the local community for many more years.
More information about the charity and its incredible work can be found here.
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