Dementia Disco: The Trio Bringing Joy and Connection to People Living with Dementia
Kate, Phil, and Nick — the co-founders of Dementia Disco — are changing the way communities support people living with dementia, hosting free, inclusive discos that bring together people with the condition, their carers, families, and children in a celebration of music, movement, and human connection.
The initiative, which has been recognised as one of the UK's most innovative social enterprises this April, was born from personal family experiences with dementia and a determination to fill a gap in community activities for people living with the condition — particularly younger people with dementia, who are often poorly served by existing services.
Background
Dementia affects approximately 900,000 people in the UK, with the number expected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040. While medical and care services have improved significantly in recent years, social isolation remains one of the most significant challenges for people living with dementia and their families. Many existing community activities are not designed to be inclusive of people with cognitive impairments, leaving individuals and their carers feeling excluded from ordinary social life.
Kate, Phil, and Nick founded Dementia Disco after experiencing the isolation that dementia can bring within their own families. They wanted to create a space where people living with dementia could "be their true selves again" — a place where the condition did not define the experience, but where music and movement could unlock joy and connection.
Key Developments
Dementia Disco events are free to attend and designed to be fully inclusive, welcoming people with dementia alongside their carers, family members, and children. The discos use music — often from the era when participants were young adults — to stimulate memory, encourage movement, and foster a sense of community. Research has consistently shown that music can reach people with dementia in ways that other forms of communication cannot, triggering emotional memories and reducing anxiety.
The founders have been particularly focused on addressing a gap in provision for younger people with dementia — those diagnosed in their 50s or 60s — who often find that existing services are designed for much older participants and do not reflect their interests or energy levels. Dementia Disco events are designed to be lively, joyful, and genuinely fun rather than merely therapeutic.
The initiative has been recognised as Social Entrepreneur of the Month for April 2026, reflecting growing recognition of the importance of community-led approaches to dementia support.
Why It Matters
Dementia Disco represents a model of community support that is both simple and profound: using the universal language of music and dance to create moments of genuine joy and human connection for people who might otherwise feel invisible. The initiative demonstrates that some of the most effective responses to complex social challenges come not from institutions or government programmes, but from individuals who have experienced a problem firsthand and decided to do something about it.
For families living with dementia, events like Dementia Disco offer something that is often in short supply: a space where they can simply enjoy themselves, without stigma or the weight of the condition defining every moment.
What's Next
The founders are working to expand Dementia Disco to more communities across the UK, with the aim of making free, inclusive events accessible to people living with dementia wherever they are. They are also sharing their model with other organisations and communities who want to set up similar initiatives.
Find out more about Dementia Disco and how to get involved at Cause4's April 2026 Social Entrepreneur of the Month feature.
