Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG)
SDWG is one of Alzheimer Scotland’s ‘Active Voice’ Groups alongside the National Dementia Carers Action Network (NDCAN).
About us
The Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG) is a national, member led campaigning and awareness raising group for people living with a diagnosis of dementia in Scotland. Founded in 2001, the group has been at the forefront of campaigning for improved dementia supports and services ever since, raising awareness to help tackle stigma, working with decision makers to ensure that people living with dementia have a voice to influence policy and practice, and working as partners in dementia research.
Our work
- to campaign and raise awareness at a national and local level
- to engage with, and inform Scotland’s National Dementia Strategies
- to promote, and raise awareness among health, social care and related professions, as well as the wider public
- to work with all stakeholders at a national and local level, including national and local government, private and voluntary providers of health, social care and housing, and other relevant bodies
- to work with other representative groups, in particular our sister group NDCAN
- to work alongside Alzheimer Scotland staff to ensure coordinated and effective campaigning activities
“It is important that we engage with, and hear, the voices of people with dementia from all localities within Scotland”
-SDWG member
Become a SDWG member
Scottish Dementia Working Group (SDWG) membership is free and open to people with dementia. The more SDWG members we have, the louder the voice of people with dementia in Scotland will be. The only requirement for membership is that you would like to meet other people with dementia to discuss things that really matter to you. Although we are not a support group, our members say that they have gained support and made friends since joining the SDWG.
We have a membership form that you can fill in and email back to us at activevoice@alzscot.org. Once you have completed the form, an Active Voice Development Officer will be in touch to find out what areas of campaigning you are interested in. If you need any support with completing the SDWG membership form, contact SDWG.
You can also download more publications by SDWG further down the page.
SDWG Publications
- Post Diagnostic Resource – A peer to peer resource produced jointly in 2018 by SDWG members and Alzheimer Scotland Occupational Therapy Interns.
- Referring someone you work with – An A4 information sheet for professionals working in the dementia field who might want to refer someone they work with to the SDWG.
- Top Tips Booklet 2024 – A booklet of ‘top tips’ for people living with dementia, by people living with dementia.
- Travelling Safely With Dementia – A booklet produced by SDWG members giving guidance and advice on how people with dementia can travel independently and safely.
- Dementia and Sensory Challenges – A resource produced by SDWG member Agnes Houston covering the sensory issues that can emerge as a result of a dementia diagnosis.
- Dementia Friendly Meetings Guidelines – Guidelines produced by our members on hosting dementia friendly meetings.
- Core Principles for Research – Principles drawn up by our Research group around the meaningful involvement of people with dementia in research. Reprinted in 2017 through the support of the Life Changes Trust.
- Occupation Matters to ME – Seven members of SDWG share with you the everyday activities that are important to them, demonstrating that people living with dementia can still do so much.
SDWG Equality Statement
The Scottish Dementia Working Group members are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment that values diversity. By standing together, we are a stronger, and more powerful voice for people living with a diagnosis of dementia in Scotland today.
The National Dementia Care Action Network (NDCAN)
The National Dementia Care Action Network (NDCAN) is a national, member led campaigning and awareness raising group of current and former dementia carers in Scotland. Learn more about our other Active Voice group NDCAN.