Melissa Fazackerley

Melissa is a qualified primary trained teacher who has a long held interest in brain function. Initially this was from the perspective of the child’s developing brain, but in the last decade since the loss of her mother to vascular dementia she has focused on studying the decline in cognitive ability experienced by people with dementia.  

Of particular interest to her is the manner in which various forms of dementia impact in quite different ways upon brain function, along with the consequent limitations people experience in their daily lives. 

A late career break in order to do a degree in ceramics has led to an interest in using the arts in dementia activities.

In recent years Melissa has had experience in the home care sector; has worked for the NHS in the Oxfordshire Supported Hospital Discharge Team (now known as HART) and also for the Alzheimer’s Society as an Advisor in North Oxfordshire. In this role it became clear that services which are able to offer stimulating activities for people with dementia but which also do not require the presence of a carer are very limited if non existent. For this reason she has chosen to join Dementia Active as it is able to offer just such a service and in particular is developing the use of Cognitive Stimulation Techniques (CST) for those with mild to moderate dementia.

Email:  melissa@dementiactive.co.uk 

Jo has been a foster carer for young people with special needs, a helper with local Beavers and Cubs groups and has for some years been a carer for her mother who has dementia.

Jo joined a Dementia Active group as a volunteer in order to give her mother the one to one support she needed to be able to continue attending. 

After a 32 year career with Tesco in Banbury, Jo took the big step in 2023 to change her career in order to manage the day to day running of the 'Dementia Active' building.

She also transports members and assists them in groups.

Kayleigh has a keen eye for detail, and a caring nature, which is why in September 2022 she started her journey to become an Occupational therapist and is currently studying a BSc Honours degree in Occupational Therapy. Kayleigh believes she has developed multiple transferable skills in her previous career in hospitality that can applied to her new position.

After completing her second-year placement, Kayleigh came to work as a group leader at Dementia Active whilst finishing her studies at university.

Kayleigh says, “I enjoy planning and running groups for individuals with mild to moderate dementia, ensuring that a graded approach is taken so that the sessions meet the members needs.”

Through the use of the Pool Activity Level (PAL) assessment, Kayleigh is able to understand an individual’s level of cognition and the best ways in which to communicate and support them.

By ensuring excellent communication between team members and family, Kayleigh has made sure all concerns of a member are reported.

Born and raised in Cheltenham Venetia has worked extensively for entertainment and publishing companies in London and the United States.

She returned to the UK from San Francisco in 2020 to help support her mothers journey with Dementia. The transition from corporate life to full-time carer was a learning curve for both parties and the support of Dementia Active proved invaluable giving Venetia respite from care duties and her mother mental and social stimulation .

Venetia says,  "Experiencing first-hand the physical, mental and social benefits that Dementia Active sessions deliver is reason enough for me to want to get involved with this awe-inspiring charity. After each full-day session my mother returns home with a genuine smile and tries hard to verbalise to tell me about her day. Dementia Active has been a godsend to both of us. My motivation to become a volunteer and get involved is simple…I want to see this amazing service made available in every community . It is a grass roots program that brings tangible benefits and vital support to both people with dementia and their carers. How wonderful it would be if it was available to everyone in need".