Philosophy
Arts
Dementia

I first started volunteering with people with dementia at the age of 16 when I sang at a local dementia day centre once a week. As soon as I began this role I knew that working with people living with dementia was always going to be a part of my life. 

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I studied Philosophy at Sussex and found that there were interesting overlaps in my degree and my work with dementia. I thought that Philosophy could perhaps help our understanding of dementia but that Philosophy also had a lot to learn from the experience of dementia. So I decided to bring these two passions together in my Masters in Health Humanities. During my masters I looked at selfhood and agency, and historical understandings of dementia among other topics. I also started working for Created out of Mind – a research residency in arts and dementia at the Wellcome Hub. I continued to work for them after my masters, working on a number of different projects including researching co-creativity, and records of dementia in the Wellcome archives. I am now studying for a PhD in Dementia and Agency at the University of the Arts London (LCF) and the UCL Dementia Research  Centre. I also work as Research Support for Rare Dementia Support. 

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Whilst continuing academic study I also set up an arts group for older people, people living with mental illness, and people living with dementia in Faversham and surrounding areas called Make Your Morning. We met in a local cafe and arts venue and would create, have coffee, and share stories. We also worked with local artists and volunteers from local schools.

I also have worked for Creative Arts East, Entelechy Arts and Music For Life (Wigmore Hall) evaluating some of their amazing creative projects.