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Dementia Active

Dementia Active is an Oxfordshire-based charity transforming the way people living with dementia are supported in their communities. Through structured activity programmes, social engagement, and specialist day support, Dementia Active helps people remain active, connected, and valued long after diagnosis.

Founded to address the growing need for meaningful daytime support, Dementia Active centres provide safe and welcoming environments where members can take part in cognitive stimulation activities, exercise sessions, music, creative arts, and social dining experiences.

As dementia rates continue to rise across the UK, Dementia Active is developing a scalable community model designed to support more people while maintaining small, personal group settings..

New dementia centre to open in Launton near Bicester

Dementia Active, a charity based in Banbury, will open the facility in Launton, near Bicester, on March 18 at 11am.

The centre will deliver structured activity sessions, social engagement, and freshly prepared meals for individuals with dementia in a village environment.

Andy Gill, chief executive of Dementia Active, said: "Returning to a village setting allows us to connect with our members on a much more personal level. Smaller groups create an environment where people feel comfortable, relaxed and able to enjoy themselves.

"Our goal is to help people living with dementia remain active, social and valued members of their communities."

The new centre will offer cognitive stimulation therapy, seated exercise, music and creative activities, along with shared dining experiences.

Dementia Active plans to expand community-based dementia support across Oxfordshire, building on its established groups in Banbury and surrounding areas. The centre will also offer respite and reassurance for families and carers.

A three-course lunch will be included in each session, and transport options will be available to ensure accessibility for all attendees.

The charity aims to show how small, community-focused centres can deliver meaningful support in a personal and familiar setting. Demand for the service is already high ahead of the official opening.

By Robyn Bennett - Oxford Mail Friday 20th March 2026

Dementia Active Opens New Respite Centre in Launton

March 2026

Dementia Active has announced the opening of a new respite centre in Launton, near Bicester, expanding support for people living with dementia across Oxfordshire.

Located at Grange Mews, the centre will offer up to 24 places per day, delivering structured cognitive stimulation therapy sessions, social activities, and nutritious meals in a welcoming village setting.

The new centre reflects Dementia Active’s commitment to providing smaller, community-based environments where members can form meaningful connections and receive personalised support.

Andy Gill, CEO of Dementia Active, said:

“Returning to a village setting allows us to connect with our members on a much more personal level. Small groups create an atmosphere where people feel comfortable, relaxed and able to enjoy themselves.”

The Launton centre joins Dementia Active’s existing services in Banbury and forms part of the charity’s long-term expansion across Oxfordshire.

Andy Gill, 15th March 2026

Dementia Active receive funding from Barratt and David Wilson Homes.

A housebuilder has donated £1,500 to support dementia care in the community.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes Southern has given the funds to Dementia Active, an Oxfordshire charity that provides social activities and respite care for people living with dementia.

More information about Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ developments in Oxfordshire can be found at barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/south-west/Oxfordshire and dwh.co.uk/new-homes/south-east/Oxfordshire.

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This latest donation will help Dementia Active continue its work at centres in Banbury, Witney, and Carterton, as well as support the opening of a new centre in Chipping Norton this summer.

Andy Gill, founder of Dementia Active, said: "We were delighted to receive this donation from Barratt and David Wilson Homes, especially with our new centre opening this summer.

"The donation will help fund our Witney and Carterton groups, and every penny will go towards supporting our members.

"We don’t receive much outside funding so donations like this allow us to expand our services and help more people in need across Oxfordshire.

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"It feels great to have our work recognised by the staff at Barratt and David Wilson Homes.

"Their ongoing support is much appreciated, and we’re looking forward to seeing how their donation will make a difference at our centres."

Dementia Active runs daily respite sessions lasting four to five hours, which include gentle exercise, arts and crafts, and structured reminiscence activities.

By Michael Ribbeck. Published 10 March 2026.

Clarkson’s Farm star Kaleb Cooper performed the opening ceremony at Chipping Norton's new dementia centre last week.

The opening last Thursday was the official launch of a new service in the town, offering care sessions for up to 40 individuals living with dementia per day.

Based in Cromwell Park, it is the sixth branch of Dementia Active, which started with sessions in a village hall in 2018 and later opened a day centre in Banbury.

The Chipping Norton branch has been named The Beverley Calvert Centre, named after one of Dementia Active’s founder members. Kaleb Cooper spent the afternoon with staff, members and the family of the late Beverley Calvert including her husband John.

Founder Andy Gill says the respite sessions offered will give partners and carers of those with dementia some personal time.

Importantly, they provide centre users valuable care, stimulation and recreation.

“We encourage conversation socially – especially upon arrival and during lunch – and through more structured reminiscence sessions,” said Mr Gill.

"Group activities provide a chance to engage playfully, with overall benefits including increased energy levels and enhanced cognition.

"Our activities range from topical discussions and gentle exercise to dancing, arts and crafts and performances by professional entertainers every few weeks.

"We provide a three-course lunch and refreshments throughout our sessions. Our groups are intimate, ensuring a high staff-to-member ratio. Additionally, we can provide local transportation to and from sessions in some cases for those without other travel options.”

The foundation of the Chipping Norton Centre has been made possible with fundraisers’ help, and in particular the Step Change Fund and Bloxdent, both of which have provided funding towards core costs.

Dementia Active will continue to rely on fundraising support from the people of Chipping Norton and Banbury. Other centres are in Witney, Carterton and Evenley near Brackley.

The organisation aims to build a nationwide network of Dementia Active centres that provide life-enhancing cognitive stimulation and social support. By working alongside families, carers, and communities, they help people with dementia stay connected, capable and at home in the world they know and love for as long as possible.

By Roseanne Edwards. Published 9th Sep 2025. 

A Banbury dementia charity is appealing for shop goods and sponsorship to help rising demand for its care service.

Dementia Active in Banbury celebrated the opening of its first charity shop in Parsons Street earlier this month. Performing the opening ceremony was Lady Saye and Sele, whose husband Lord Saye and Sele used the service prior to his death in January.

The shop is proving to be a huge success but needs donations of saleable goods – clothes, bric a brac, books, bags etc - to keep funds rolling in.

The organisation has been inundated with requests for places for local residents with dementia and is desperate for funds to help provide these places and to support carers.

Lady Saye and Sele is welcomed to the new Dementia Active charity shop in Parsons Street, Banbury for the official opening

One carer described the sessions provided as ‘five star help’ and said: “I can not recommend this group highly enough. My husband feels safe and part of the family. The group leaders and volunteers all make the day interesting and stimulating and I have the break I need.”

CEO Andrew Gill said: “It is with regret that Gail, our fundraiser, has moved on to pastures new but we thank her for all she has achieved for the charity.“Fundraising and grants have been key in enabling us to complete our building, which is now fit for the purpose of delivering a whole range of activities for people with dementia.

“The problems we are now facing are the sheer numbers of local people with dementia that need our four-hour session places which cost money.“We have high transport costs, high wage costs and high lease costs, which is why the ongoing financial help we receive from local businesses is key to our ability to support more and more local people with dementia.”

Dementia Active has put out a call to local businesses to sponsor the group with regular financial support.

The Dementia Active shop is proving popular but needs donations of saleable items to help boost funds

“As a potential corporate sponsor, you could make a huge difference to the life of a local person with dementia and their immediate family.

“Dementia is an illness which can isolate people from former friends. The value of spending time with others who can share this sense of isolation cannot be overestimated. We aim to create a sense of community where no one need feel apologetic or uncomfortable about not being able to do those things which in the past would have been straightforward,” it says.

• £30 per month would pay for 120 hot meals for Dementia Active members over the course of a year

• £90 per month would pay for 120 journeys to and from Dementia Active over the course of a year

• £200 per month would fully fund a member attending once a week, giving respite to family or a partner for up to 25 hours a month, who could not normally

afford it. All corporate donations are tax deductible.

To offer items for sale in the shop, to see how you can volunteer or to find out more about sponsoring this valuable service please email info@dementiactive.co.uk or call 01295 408441.

By Roseanne Edwards. Published 26th Aug 2024

Community Funding Helps Dementia Active Expand Services

August 2023

A north Oxfordshire charity has been able to grow from offering small support groups in community halls to running their own dedicated centre thanks in part to Oxfordshire County Council’s connected communities fund.

Dementia Active in Banbury is a registered charity specialising in running activities which support people with dementia.

After applying to Oxfordshire County Council’s connected communities fund, the organisation received £4939, helping them to keep running their regular sessions for older people with dementia while their new building in Banbury was taking shape.

Andy Gill, CEO of Dementia Active, said: “We create a sense of community where people can feel comfortable in themselves and don’t need to worry about what other people think of them. They’re in a safe, comfortable environment. The aim is to stimulate cognitive responses in a range of enjoyable activities as this can help slow down the progress of the disease.

“The additional funding and support we received through the connected communities fund allowed us to keep running our much needed services at a crucial and pivotal point in our ongoing development.

“Our new building is now up and running and in September we are opening a drop in Music for Wellbeing service for people diagnosed with dementia and their carers as well as new groups for people with advanced dementia and young onset dementia.

“The encouragement and advice offered by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action and Community First Oxfordshire has been invaluable throughout.”

Dementia Active is one of more than 70 groups and organisations that have been supported by the connected communities fund since it launched last autumn, each receiving a share of £175,000 resulting in more than 90 activities being delivered in the last year.

Managed by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA) and Community First Oxfordshire (CFO), the grants ‘plus’ programme offered financial support up to the value of £5,000 per applicant, alongside advice and support to help the money go as far as possible.

It’s part of the council’s adult social care Oxfordshire Way vision to support people to live well and independently within their own communities, remaining fit and healthy for as long as possible.

Oxfordshire County Council, 14th August 2023.

Took a walk up the Oxford Canal to Dementia Active on Manor Park in Banbury. You forget that not everyone is a position to do that. To wander up the canal, cut through Spiceball Country Park and admire the banks of cranesbill and the butterflies on the way. 

Andy showed me around the new building. Messy room, sensory room, music room, café/lounge space, activity and event rooms. They’re up and running and with a lick of paint in the lobby they’ll be fully good to go. Hard to believe, this all started out, with one small group in a village hall. 

Lunch is in progress, twenty older people with dementia, eating, chatting and interacting. Joking amongst themselves and with volunteers and staff. Activity sessions in the morning, lunch, then further activities in the afternoon. A safe, supportive environment, with a high level of professionalism and support from staff and volunteers who clearly do truly care.

Add in all that added value of precious hours of respite for families and carers and the impact must be huge. It’s hard to describe, so watch this short video Dementia Active on Vimeo It’ll paint you a much better picture of Dementia Active Elderly Care, CST, Respite – Dementia Active (dementiactive.co.uk) than I ever can.     

The Connected Communities Fund, is being delivered in partnership by OCVA and Community First Oxfordshire and has been made available by Oxfordshire County Council

By John Hayes, OCVA Development Worker. Published 17th July 2023

A fundraising auction has raised £10,000 to enhance a new dementia centre in Banbury.

Dementia Active held a Grand Opening and Fundraising Auction event at their new centre in Manor Park, Banbury.

Lord and Lady Saye and Sele (right) with Martin Fiennes, left, and Dementia Active CEO, Andy Gill

Officially opened by Lord and Lady Saye and Sele, of Broughton Castle, the fundraiser was raising money to complete a newly installed mezzanine floor – and to raise local awareness for the charity.

Event organiser Gail Seward said: “We were absolutely delighted to have the support of the local community. The event was a huge success and raised an impressive £10,000 with an extensive range of auction lots generously gifted. These included concert tickets, signed Northampton Saints Rugby collectibles, gift vouchers, artwork, a private tour of Prodrive and a bottle of champagne signed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, kindly donated by Victoria Prentis.”

By Roseanne Edwards. Published 23rd May 2023 

A group of Oxfordshire cyclists are taking on a 300-mile cycling fundraising challenge to benefit a Banbury-based charity called Dementia Active.

Kelly’s Heroes are a group men from Oxfordshire, who have been raising money for local charities over the last five years by cycling various long-distance routes, including Banbury to Blackpool, London to Brighton and Oxford to Paris.

This year the group are riding from Broughton Castle in Banbury on Thursday September 9 arriving at Lands End in Cornwall on Saturday September 11, a total of 330 miles over three days.

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Kelly's Heroes have chosen to support the Dementia Active charity based in Banbury with their cycling challenge.

Andy Gill, the founder and CEO of the Dementia Active charity, said: "It's absolutely amazing they've chosen us. They're so positive about it."

The group launched a GoFundMe fundraising webpage, and have already passed their target of £2,500. The group has raised £4,330, and hopes to raise as much as possible before they finish the challenge.

Mr Gill added: "It's great. I talked to Martin Fiennes about starting it from Broughton Castle. His mum, Lady Saye and Sele, is our patron."

The Fiennes family of Broughton Castle are very supportive of fundraising for the Dementia Active charity.

Andy also said the money from the fundraising challenge will go towards securing a building for the charity.

He said: "At the minute we are using village halls. Our ultimate goal is to buy our own building.

"We provide daytime sessions for people with dementia, which allows families to get the respite they need."

The charity, which started in December 2018, currently runs four sessions, three in Banbury and one Bicester. There are a maximum of 10 people per session, but the charity uses lots of volunteers which helps provide more one to one help.

 By Matt Elofson. Published 6th Sep 2021 

Dementia Active also has groups in Aynho and Oxford that meet weekly. The new group in Bicester will start from Tuesday, December 10.

A ‘GROUND-breaking’ organisation that helps those living with Dementia and their families, will start hosting a weekly community group next month in Bicester.

Not-for-profit company, Dementia Active, is holding activity sessions tailored around members' ability levels and interest.

People can play games, do puzzles, sing and create crafts at the meet-ups every Tuesday at Kingsmere Community Centre from December 10.

Unlike many day-care services which care in large groups, Dementia Active groups are small with a maximum of ten members and a high staffing ratio.

Andy Gill, founder of Dementia Active, said: “Dementia is an illness that isolates people from friends who do not understand and who may well fear it in their own lives. It can also create a feeling of separation even from their own loved ones.

“The value of spending time with others who can share this sense of isolation cannot be overestimated.

"There is a sense of community where no one need feel apologetic or uncomfortable about not being able to do those things which in the past would have been straightforward.”

Dementia Active says depression and isolation is common even for those with supportive families and that carers can also end up feeling isolated as friends desert them as a result of their uncertainty about how to relate to their former friends.

Dementia Active aims to help carers maintain their social contacts by creating a block of free time for carers.

It uses the only non-drug treatment recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) called Cognitive Simulation Techniques.

Mr Gill, whose wife was diagnosed with a rare form of vascular dementia when she was 39, added: "This is becoming increasingly popular as a way of helping alleviate some of the symptoms of mild to moderate dementia. Activities are based around a particular theme and are designed to improve cognitive ability and memory, for instance: quizzes, gentle exercise, music and singing, reminiscence, art, craft activities, puzzles, coordination games and playing cards.”

Dementia Active sessions range from £22 to £35 depending on the length and location.

The sessions at Kingsmere will run from 11.45am to 3.45pm.

Mr Gill added:“We are absolutely delighted to have been invited to be part of a really exciting community initiative at the Kingsmere Community Centre. It is run by a team of committed and enthusiastic local people whose goal is to make Bicester a great place to live for everyone, whatever their level of need.”

Kingsmere Community Centre opened in September 2018 and has since been used by a variety of community groups in Bicester such as mental health support group, Nai's House.

Ellie Gordon, a director of the Centre, said: “As a relatively new community resource, our mission here is to be at the very heart of the community and accessible to all, so being dementia and carer friendly is an absolute priority for us.

"The Centre Cafe at Kingsmere is dedicated to being a comfortable space for all. "

By Indya Clayton. Published 28th November 2019

A sponsored swim in Broughton Castle’s moat has raised more than £1,100 for Dementia Active.

On Saturday, charity founder Andy Gill, his son, Barry, and friends, swam the six foot deep moat which encircles three acres. The team was supported by Lord and Lady Saye and Sele and their son, Martin Fiennes. The swim raised money to fund Dementia Days Out, a fortnightly minibus trip to dementia-friendly places such as historic sites, beauty spots and animal sanctuaries.

Dementia Active provides daytime activities for those living with dementia in a safe and welcoming environment.Lady Saye and Sele said: “We were really happy to host the charity day to help Dementia Active raise these vital funds. We thoroughly enjoyed the day and are already planning to host another event next summer.”Dementia Active aims to provide enough support and stimulation it delays a person with dementia from going into a nursing home.It uses Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) which is the only non-drug treatment recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) and is becoming increasingly popular as a successful way to help alleviate the symptoms of mild to moderate dementia.Activities are based around a particular theme and are designed to improve cognitive ability and memory such as gentle exercise, music and singing, reminiscence, art, craft activities, puzzles, coordination games and playing cards.

By Kerry Hathway. Published 17th Sep 2019 

Dementia Active can offer expert insight and real-life stories relating to:

• The rise of dementia in the UK and community-based solutions
• Innovative activity programmes for people living with dementia
• The impact of dementia on families and carers
• How community charities are addressing gaps in social care
• The role of exercise, creativity and social engagement in dementia support
• The development of dementia-friendly communities

We can also provide case studies of families and members whose lives have been transformed through activity-based support.

Media Enquiries

For press interviews, comment, or media requests please contact:

Dementia Active
📧info@dementiactive.co.uk
📞01295 408441
🌐www.dementiactive.co.uk

Media visits to centres and interviews with staff, volunteers, members and families can be arranged.