Alliance launched to unite dementia care across Hampshire and Isle of Wight
A new Hampshire & Isle of Wight Dementia Alliance will coordinate services and amplify lived experiences to streamline support for those affected by dementia. Age Concern Hampshire leads the initiative, backed by 12 partner organizations.
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight now have a single, unified front to fight dementia. The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Dementia Alliance officially launched this week, pooling 12 partner organizations, unpaid carers, and people living with dementia into a single network designed to cut through fragmented services and deliver timely, relevant support.
Led by Age Concern Hampshire, the new coalition includes Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Solent NHS Trust, Hampshire County Council, and Alzheimer’s Society. Its mission is straightforward: to make dementia support easier to find, faster to access, and more consistent across the region. Lucy Wheeler, marketing manager at Age Concern Hampshire, said the Alliance responds directly to the frustration families feel when trying to navigate disjointed services. “People tell us they’re overwhelmed by the system. One minute they’re on hold for hours, the next they’re sent to a service that isn’t right for their needs,” she said. “This Alliance is about stitching those gaps together.”
Key Points
- ✅ 12 organizations unite to coordinate dementia services across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
- ⚡ Alliance aims to eliminate service fragmentation and reduce waiting times for families
- 💡 Includes voices of people living with dementia and unpaid carers in decision-making
Dementia affects around 21,000 people across the region, and numbers are rising as the population ages. The Alliance is not a new service provider but a connector—sharing best practices, aligning referral pathways, and hosting joint training sessions for professionals and volunteers. Its first major action is a regional directory of dementia-friendly activities, launching next month, covering everything from memory cafés in Winchester to adapted walking groups in Newport.
| Area | Current Gap | Alliance Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | Limited post-diagnostic support groups | Monthly peer-led cafés starting June 12 |
| Isle of Wight | No dedicated dementia navigator | Two navigators to be hired by September |
| Eastleigh | Inconsistent respite care access | Shared respite voucher scheme with local councils |
Brogan Rehill, Age Concern Hampshire’s head of strategy, partnerships, and community impact, has spent the past six months brokering partnerships and securing funding. She confirmed the Alliance has £180,000 in initial funding from Hampshire County Council and local NHS trusts. “This isn’t about reinventing the wheel,” Rehill said. “It’s about greasing the axles so the wheels can turn more smoothly.” The funding will cover coordination staff, training, and the creation of an online portal where carers and individuals can search for local services by postcode.
💡 Pro Tip
If you or someone you know is newly diagnosed, visit the Alliance portal before calling your GP—it lists verified, low-wait services sorted by urgency.
The Alliance’s steering group includes two people with lived experience: John Carter, 68, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia three years ago, and Maria Patel, 44, who cares for her mother with Lewy body dementia. Both have become vocal advocates for better coordination. “I spent two years bouncing between different teams,” Carter said. “I just wanted someone who could say, ‘Here’s your plan.’ Now I sit in meetings where people finally listen.” Patel added, “Carers are exhausted. We don’t need another leaflet—we need a clear path.”
📋 By The Numbers
- 21,000 — Estimated people living with dementia across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight
- 42% — Proportion of carers reporting difficulty accessing services within three months of diagnosis according to local surveys
- 3 — Local NHS trusts contributing funding to the Alliance
Next month, the Alliance will host a public launch event at the Age Concern Hampshire hub in Eastleigh. Residents can meet the team, test the new portal, and sign up for a free “Dementia Friends” information session. The long-term goal is a single, real-time dashboard showing service availability across the region—so no one is left waiting in silence.