The Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice (ASCPP) at UWS is celebrating ten years of impact on improving the lives of people living with dementia.

The Centre marked the achievement with a special event hosted at the University’s Paisley campus, which was attended by staff, students and the wider community.  

The Centre is a partnership between UWS and Alzheimer Scotland, and is world-leading in dementia care, research and practice education.

 

Professor James Miller, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UWS, said: “I congratulate the students, staff and partners associated with the ASCPP for the positive impact of their scholarship on policy, practice and our communities. I am very proud to be celebrating the Centre’s ten-year anniversary. Addressing global challenges is core to our Institutional strategic mission and there is no doubt that dementia is a major public health challenge. Cutting-edge dementia education and workforce development approaches, pioneered at the Institution, are equipping the next generation of leaders to improve practice and services locally and internationally.” 

Henry Simmons, Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland, said: “The partnership Centre has made a remarkable contribution. The Centre has been in the vanguard of translating our policy and campaigning work into practice and has led outstanding innovations. The Centre has also demonstrated a commitment to shine a light on areas, tackling issues often neglected in terms of research focus. The voices of those with lived experience are at the heart of the values and principles underpinning the aims of the Centre. We cannot commend the Centre enough. We are incredibly grateful and look forward to continuing to build on this wonderful partnership.” 

Professor Debbie Tolson, Director of the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice, said: “It has been a busy and rewarding ten years. Moving forward, some things will change, but our mission will remain steadfast: to use ASCPP collaborative scholarship to make the world a better place for people living with dementia.”

The celebratory event highlighted the incredible and impactful work of the Centre over the last ten years, and incorporated a short awards ceremony, honouring three groups – the Scottish Dementia Working Group, the National Dementia Carers Action Network, and the Alzheimer Scotland Dementia Consultant Group – and one individual – Margaret Callaghan, Nurse and Dementia Champion – who are making an extraordinary difference to those living with dementia and their loved ones.

The event was opened by Dr Claire Chalmers, Dean of the School of Health and Life Sciences and was followed by an address from Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor James Miller. 

It also saw contributions from Henry Simmons, Chief Executive of Alzheimer Scotland; Professor Debbie Tolson, Director of the Centre; other members of the Centre; and contributions from students involved in their work.

At the event, a ten-year celebratory report was launched, which can be accessed here.