Work begins on new dementia strategy for St Helens

Article date: Monday 2 February 2026

During the visit, Councillor Bowden met with service users and family members who shared their lived experiences of dementia. Their contributions will play a crucial role in shaping the emerging council strategy, ensuring it reflects the real challenges faced by people living with dementia and those who care for them.

The Alzheimer's Society, which is commissioned by St Helens Borough Council to provide dementia support services, continues to work closely with the council to improve outcomes for residents affected by dementia, holding post-diagnostic courses groups and one to one guidance and support in communities around the borough.

According to the Alzheimer's Society, an estimated 982,000 people are currently living with dementia in the UK, with the council supporting 234 residents every day with cognitive and memory needs through a range of services.

Councillor Andy Bowden, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, said:

"Meeting with people who are living with dementia and their families is absolutely vital as we develop this new strategy. Their experiences will help us shape services that are compassionate, effective and focused on what really matters to residents.

"The more voices that are heard and reflected in the strategy, the better it will be at meeting people's needs and we will listen."

Commenting on the hopeful outcomes of the strategy, Hayley Winstanley, Alzheimer's Society Local Service Manager, said: "

The best approach is to listen to the experiences of people with lived experience from the very beginning. This will steer the strategy in the right direction to make sure it is meaningful and shaped around what matters most to people in St Helens who are affected by dementia. Without the views of those with lived experience, we risk having a Dementia Strategy that's irrelevant to the people who are impacted the most. This is a great opportunity, and it's important to make sure this strategy works for the people who are affected by dementia or might be in the future, so that they can live as well as possible and receive the right support at the right time."

Still in its early stages, the strategy will aim to strengthen the council's approach to the prevention, onset and management of dementia, while also improving the support available to the many carers across the borough.

The council is also working in partnership with the Alzheimer's Society to co‑deliver the Dementia Partnership Board, strengthening the voice of people with lived experience. This collaboration will ensure greater representation and create meaningful opportunities for individuals to help shape both the board's work and the wider dementia strategy.

Adult social care represents a significant proportion of the council's overall budget, with the approved Adult Social Care budget for 2025/26 standing at just under £70 million. The new dementia strategy will sit within this wider commitment to supporting vulnerable residents.