The 2025 conference took place at Elland Road on the 14th October. It was a great success and we are looking forward to bringing you news on the 2026 U&ME Conference very soon.
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Date: Tuesday 14 October 2025
š Time: 9.30am – 5pm
(stallholders from 9am, registration from 9.30am; conference begins at 10am)
š Location: Norman Hunter Suite, Elland Road Stadium, Leeds LS11 0ES
The conference was opened by Professor Martin Green OBE, CE of Care England, who has described young onset dementia as āone of the biggest challenges facing the care sectorā.
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Change not CrisisĀ – an in-depth look at mental health wards and sectioning, led by Emma Wolverson (Dementia UK) alongside a carer with lived experienceĀ and an insight into associated funding
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Creating Change in Care SettingsĀ – learning from care experts who have successfully adapted services for young onset dementia
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Creating CommunityĀ – exploring how arts, sport and other community initiatives, including the work being done at Leeds United Football Club, can support people
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Changing Clinical CareĀ – looking at why diagnosis and clinical practice need to change, with examples of where this has been done and how
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WorkshopsĀ – on inspiring culture change onĀ both a largeĀ scaleĀ – influencing practice across the country – and on a small scaleĀ for the individual
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MarketplaceĀ – a variety of stalls from businesses, voluntary sector organisations and researchers, giving you the chance to network and connect
Join the U&ME Campaign
Watch our film – U&ME – āCreate A Voiceā for young onset dementia
On 31st October 2022, Dementia Forward launched the U&ME Campaign with the support of Peter Deaman from Lateral Consultancy, whose close friend of nearly 40 years, Jonathan Beardsworth, is living with young onset dementia. Jonathan was 64 on the 24th October 2022, which is now marked annually as national Young Onset Dementia Awareness Day; to highlight the impact of young onset dementia.
On the 24th October 2024, YODA Day, we launched our U&ME single. The song is written and performed by Yorkshire singer/songwriter Scott Quinn and aims to raise awareness of the growing number of young people facing the devastating impact of the condition. This year, we will be launching a remix of the single and holding our second annual Young Onset Dementia Conference.
You can listen and download the single on your usual streaming platforms – Y.O.D.A – U&ME.
Peter and Jonathan are passionate about instigating change and are working with Dementia Forward on the U & Me Campaign to help Create a Voice for Young Onset Dementia. The Campaign has been endorsed by top government advisor and Care Englandās Chief Executive Professor Martin Green OBE.
Our Campaign Objectives
- Raise awareness, and keep people living with young onset dementia doing what they love for as long as possible.
- Deliver a pioneering, specialist, age appropriate care and support model for Yorkshire
To find out more about what Dementia Forward offers across North Yorkshire, please download their leaflet here: Dementia Forward’s Young Onset Services
Please add your voice to the U & Me Campaign here:
We Want to Hear Your Voice
“I am so impressed by the way the U & ME campaign is committed to cascading the lessons learned from their own outstanding work to the entire system, and to making sure that people with young onset dementia receive the support and understanding essential to them to live good quality lives. This campaign is ground-breaking in so many ways, and the creativity and innovation that lies at the heart of this work will be an exemplar for many future campaigns. This campaign will work on many levels and the outcome will be a better life for people living with young onset dementia and their families. Ultimately the eradication of this condition, as we move towards a cure.ā
Professor Martin Green OBE, 
Chief Executive
Care England
In 2025, we are honing our plans and thinking ahead to the future. If you would like to read about our long-term plans for young onset dementia support in Yorkshire and beyond, please click here: U&ME Centre of Excellence