Chief Executive update

31 March update

Dear Supporters

I hope this finds you and your loved ones safe and well.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete our Have Your Say survey. We wanted to hear your thoughts on the current state of dementia care in Scotland and 845 people responded. The results of the survey are worrying and clearly show a system that is unable to meet the health and social care needs of people living with dementia, their families and carers. Issues with diagnosis, support after diagnosis, home care and respite care were all highlighted. 96% of respondents backed Alzheimer Scotland’s call for a clear National Dementia Care Pathway as set out in our manifesto: A better future for dementia care in Scotland – the time is now. We will be publishing a summary of our survey results on our website in the coming weeks.

Brain Awareness Week took place between 16-20 March. This annual global initiative is aimed at raising awareness of brain health and encouraging support for brain sciences. This year our own campaign focused on the subject of women’s brain health. Research shows that across the UK, women are more likely to develop dementia than men, and two thirds of people living with dementia are women. We also know that dementia is the leading cause of death for women in Scotland.

When phase two of the Scottish Government’s Women’s Health Plan was published in January this year, we were delighted that brain health and dementia have now been included as focus areas. This is an important and very positive step forward and our Active Voice group members played a key role in campaigning for this inclusion. Throughout Brain Awareness Week, we shared key facts and statistics across our social media channels, and our Brain Health Scotland team developed a Women’s Brain Health guide that you can download here.

We now have less than two weeks to go before our Shooting Stars Charity Football Match, which is being held at Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld on Sunday 12 April. The event is shaping up to be a wonderful day out for all the family with an exciting line up of celebrity players including Still Game stars Sanjeev Kohli and Matt Costello and River City actors Stephen Purdon and Robin Laing. We will also be joined by former Rangers and Scotland manager Alex McLeish, former Motherwell and St Mirren striker John Sutton as well as other famous faces from the world of sport and entertainment. Tickets are still available here and I look forward to seeing you there on the day.

Best wishes

Henry Simmons
Chief Executive

27 February update

Dear Supporters

I hope this finds you and your loved ones safe and well.

We were disappointed to hear that after further review of the Alzheimer’s disease treatment donanemab, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) have made the decision not to recommend the drug for use by NHS Scotland. Dementia is currently the leading cause of death in the UK and for people affected by the condition, decisions like these are devastating. We believe there needs to be a change in the assessment process for treatments like donanemab, with the introduction of dedicated pilot sites for testing in clinical practice before any final decisions about NHS provision are made. You can read our full response here.

Our Big Brain Tour officially started on 16 February with a visit to a primary school in Dundee where our team met with 600 pupils. Thanks to our charity partnership with Scotmid, we have been able to invest in taking our prevention messaging on the road. With the help of our 4-metre tall, walk through inflatable brain we will be touring the country talking to as many people as possible about looking after brain health and how small everyday habits can make a big difference.  You can find out more about our Big Brain Tour here.

If you haven’t got your tickets yet for our 2026 Shooting Stars charity football match, there’s still time. Taking place on Sunday 12 April at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld, the event will bring together a host of famous faces from the world of sport and entertainment to battle it out on the pitch in a Scotland versus the rest of the world match. Not only is it a great family day out but a chance for us to share vital information on dementia prevention and protecting your brain health. You can find out more about Shooting Stars and get your tickets here.

Finally, Monday 23 February was National Helpline Day – an annual campaign that shines a spotlight on the work of helplines across the UK. It is thanks to fundraised income and the dedication and commitment of our remarkable volunteers that our own Dementia Helpline is able to provide round the clock support for people. Thank you to everyone who makes this possible.

Best wishes

Henry Simmons
Chief Executive

30 January update

Dear Supporters

I hope this finds you and your loved ones safe and well.

With the Scottish Parliamentary elections taking place in May, this is going to be a key campaigning year for Alzheimer Scotland. In 2025, our Stop the Cuts campaign challenged the devastating cuts that are being made to dementia supports and services across the Scotland. We also launched our manifesto,  ‘A better future for dementia care in Scotland – the time is now’ which calls for people with dementia to have access to quality, local support  throughout every stage of their condition, a national pathway of care,  and for dementia to be given the same priority in the health system as other major illnesses.

To help shape and strengthen our campaigning, we want to hear your feedback on dementia care in Scotland. We are asking you to ‘Have your say’ by completing our website survey here. The most important voices are those with lived experience and we greatly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with us.

On Wednesday 10 December 2025, Alzheimer Scotland launched its Childhood Dementia in Scotland report. The report was published on behalf of Childhood Dementia Scotland – a collaborative partnership established in 2024 to raise awareness of and encourage greater funding and research into childhood dementia. It is thought that around 380 families are affected by childhood dementia in Scotland, and the report calls for the Scottish Government to include the condition in the second delivery plan of their national dementia strategy. It also asks for a nationally standardised, evidence-based framework of practice for childhood dementia in Scotland, and increased investment in research. You can read the full report here.

I am delighted that our Shooting Stars charity football match will return in 2026. This year, the event will be held on Sunday 12 April at the Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld and will once again be a great day out for all the family, as well as a valuable opportunity for Alzheimer Scotland to promote the benefits of looking after your brain health. Find out more details of the match and how to get your tickets here.

Finally, I’d like to thank everyone who supported our 2025 Winter Campaign – ‘Help us answer every call – because talking helps’. The campaign shone a spotlight on our Dementia Helpline and the vital support it provides. Thank you to everyone who made a donation and thank you to our wonderful Helpline volunteers who are there to provide support and a listening ear 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Best wishes

Henry Simmons
Chief Executive

18 December update

Dear Supporters

I hope this finds you and your loved ones safe and well.

This year, our winter campaign focuses on our 24 hour Freephone Dementia Helpline and the vital support it provides. The campaign strapline – ‘Help us answer every call, because talking helps’ highlights just how important it is to have someone to provide information, signposting or simply a listening ear when it’s most needed. Thank you to everyone who has donated to the campaign so far – you can find out more about it here.

The holiday season can often be a challenging time for people with dementia and their families. Familiar routines and services can be disrupted, which can be stressful. We want to reassure you that Alzheimer Scotland will be here for you this winter. Our 24 hour Freephone Dementia Helpline is available 365 days a year and our Dementia Advisor Services are here to help with information, advice or advocacy relating to dementia and brain health. Our 27 Brain Health & Dementia Resource Centres, based across Scotland, provide a warm, friendly welcome and a range of groups and therapeutic activities. Find out more about our winter support here.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of our wonderful fundraisers and supporters who have helped us this year. The generosity and kindness you have shown us through your fundraising and donations is remarkable.

I’d also like to say a huge thank you to all our staff and volunteers. Your unwavering commitment and dedication to Alzheimer Scotland continues to help us make sure that nobody faces dementia alone.

I wish you all a safe and peaceful festive season.

Best wishes

Henry Simmons
Chief Executive

30 November update

Dear Supporters

I hope this find you and your loved ones safe and well.

On Tuesday 18 November, National Records of Scotland published a new report on dementia deaths in 2024. The latest figures show there were 6,612 deaths in 2024 – an increase of 1.9% on the previous year. This is concerning news and another wake-up call for Scotland. The findings from this report show that dementia should be given the priority it deserves within our health and social care services, however cuts and reductions are being made to dementia supports and services across Scotland. At Alzheimer Scotland, we are calling for a clear national strategy, as well as the introduction of a guaranteed pathway of dementia care that respects people’s rights, listens to their voices and supports them at every stage. You can read our full response to the report here.

Our 2025 Winter Campaign launched on 20 November. This year, we highlight the essential service provided by our Freephone Dementia Helpline, which provides round-the-clock support to ensure that nobody faces dementia alone. Our campaign strapline, Help us answer every call – because talking helps, captures the Helpline’s core mission – to provide vital support through conversation and providing a listening ear. You can find out more about our campaign and how to support it here.

With the cold weather and dark nights, winter can be a difficult time for many of us. We want to reassure you that Alzheimer Scotland will remain here for you over these coming months with local support from our Centres, our Dementia Advisor Services and our 24 hour Freephone Dementia Helpline. Find out more

I’d like to thank everyone who came along to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and supporter event at our Glasgow Centre on 14 November. It is always wonderful to get the chance to meet members, supporters and fundraisers in person and thank them for their support. We also launched our 2024/25 Annual Review on the day. The review looks back at the last 12 months and spotlights just some the innovative work and projects we have been involved in. You can download your copy here.

Finally, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who attended our 10th Crystal Ball on 22 November, and a special thank you to all the volunteer committee members who have made this such a successful event over the past 10 years.

Best wishes

Henry Simmons
Chief Executive

31 October update

Dear Supporters

I hope this find you and your loved ones safe and well.

Once again, I would like to sincerely thank everyone who supported our Stop the Cuts campaign over these last few months. Our 2026 election manifesto is available to read here – we are calling on parties and candidates to stop the cuts, protect dementia services a build a national, consistent standard of care that ends the postcode lottery for good.

On Wednesday 29 October, as part of an exciting new partnership with New College Lanarkshire, I was delighted to attend the opening of the Brain Health Scotland Centre for Health and Social Care. The college, which has committed to embedding brain health into its new five-year strategy, has over 12,000 students across five campuses, including 2,000 training in health and social care, and this offers a major opportunity to empower and educate a new generation in brain health.

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Friday 14 November at our Centre in Oxford Street, Glasgow. I am very much looking forward to welcoming all our members who can attend. The AGM is a great way to hear directly from Office Bearers, and I look forward to presenting on some of our fantastic projects and initiatives over last 12 months. Our 2024/25 Annual Review will also be published and available on the day for a deeper showcase on all our key activity.

After the AGM we are holding a special Supporter Thank You Event for some of our wonderful fundraisers. It is always a pleasure for me to get the chance to thank in person so many people who have contributed their time to raise vital funds for us.

Our Memory Walk events have now finished for this year with our final walk being held on Sunday 26 October at our Outdoor Brain Health & Dementia Resource Centre at Lauriston Castle. Thank you to everyone who braved the weather to come along and support us on Sunday and thank you to everyone who walked in Dundee, Aberdeen and Glasgow, or took part in the Your Walk, Your Way weekend. We look forward to seeing you again next year.

With the clocks recently changing, we are now heading towards the winter months. We know that this can be a challenging time for people with dementia and their families. Our annual winter campaign this year will focus on our Dementia Helpline and the invaluable support that it offers to people throughout the year. We will bring you more details of this year’s campaign in the coming weeks.

Best wishes

Henry Simmons
Chief Executive