Empowered Conversations

01/11/2026

We talk about improving Cognitive Reserve in our courses, here's some helpful tips on ways we can do that.

Relying on technology can make us forgetful, but there are some simple ways to sharpen your recall. Memory experts describe the tricks and habits that can help

30/10/2026

Dementia makes communication harder!

We use the amazing work of within our course. Alison managed to squish over 10 years of research around this into a fantastic 17 minute film.

The film helps families affected by dementia to understand why communication gets trickier. And then spot small changes that can support improvements in communication and connections.

Please share with people struggling with and .

For anyone living in and . We have a 6 week course that can help you to understand more about dementia, communication, self care, memory and steps you can take to reduce stress and improve connections.The course is part of a research trial with The University of Manchester.

Source: YouTube

More videos in the "Dementia communication help for carers and peop...

28/10/2026

Caring for someone living with Dementia can be rewarding , it can also bring moments of isolation and uncertainty . Empowered conversations CIC run a Free online support group funded by Bolton Dementia Support. The group is a safe space where carers can share experiences , gain practical insights and connect with other carers who truly get it . It’s a great place to pause reflect and breathe! The sessions run once a month on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 10am -11am via zoom . The next session is on 12th November please follow the booking link below to reserve you place .

© 2026 Time to Spare Ltd trading as plinth. All rights reserved. Space 4, 113-115 Fonthill Road, N4 3HH • Reg No. 11530023

26/10/2026

For any sandwich carers, this might be of interest

Join Kim for a personal and honest look at life as a sandwich carer, balancing caring for her dad alongside being a mum, wife and working professional.

In this online session, Kim will share her journey from the early signs that something wasn’t quite right with her dad, through his Alzheimer’s diagnosis and the gradual impact caring had on her family life, career and wellbeing.

She’ll talk about the invisible mental load of caring, the constant worry about what might happen next and the experience of trying to keep everything going while still being there for everyone else.

Kim will also introduce the six-step framework she has developed for sandwich carers, and share a small selection of practical activities from the programme that you can take away and use in your own life.

Book your place here: https://bit.pulse.ly/1owkzlfipg

23/10/2026

FROM INCAPABLE to APPRECIATED, USEFUL and WORTHY!

The Empowered Conversations is a 6-week exploring how impacts and encouraging participants to get curious and try out different ways to improve connections. The move towards curiosity, or a mentalized state, is the golden thread underpinning every session.

In week 1, we ask participants to get curious about how family members living with dementia might feel when they are having a chat with them. It generates a lot of words, some negative, some positive. We repeat this question at the end of the course.
In week 5, we spend time thinking about control, for the carer and for the person with dementia. For a load of different reasons, control is often taken away from a person with dementia;

‘It’s quicker if I do it’,

‘They can’t cook anymore’,

‘It’ll make more of a mess if they do it’.

We encourage participants to consider what somebody can do and give control back!

‘It’s quicker if I do it’ becomes ‘does it matter if it takes a bit longer?’

‘They can’t cook anymore’, becomes ‘mum peeled the carrots with me in the kitchen!’

‘It’ll make more of a mess if they do it’ becomes ‘I’ll just sweep up later!’

Having the space to be curious about how somebody feels, to consider what’s important for that person and how it feels when we ‘do for’ rather than ‘do with’ is an essential ingredient of the course.

On week 6 we ask participants to repeat the feelings exercise; “how might family members living with dementia feel when they are having a conversation with them?”.

Our recent course generated the following words.
Week 1 Incapable
Week 6 Appreciated, Useful and Worthy

‘Mum used to fidget with her hands when I was doing jobs for her. Now we’re working together, she’s peeling the carrots, or folding the clean washing. She’s not fidgeting with her hands, she’s smiling.’ Family Caregiver, NE London.

Empowered Conversations is part of a national multi centred project being delivered in , and . The course is available to family/friends supporting a person with dementia living at home.
For more information -

23/10/2026

FROM INCAPABLE to APPRECIATED, USEFUL and WORTHY!

The Empowered Conversations is a 6-week exploring how impacts and encouraging participants to get curious and try out different ways to improve connections. The move towards curiosity, or a mentalized state, is the golden thread underpinning every session.

In week 1, we ask participants to get curious about how family members living with dementia might feel when they are having a chat with them. It generates a lot of words, some negative, some positive. We repeat this question at the end of the course.

In week 5, we spend time thinking about control, for the carer and for the person with dementia. For a load of different reasons, control is often taken away from a person with dementia;

‘It’s quicker if I do it’,
‘They can’t cook anymore’,
‘It’ll make more of a mess if they do it’.

We encourage participants to consider what somebody can do and give control back!

‘It’s quicker if I do it’ becomes ‘does it matter if it takes a bit longer?’

‘They can’t cook anymore’, becomes ‘mum peeled the carrots with me in the kitchen!’

‘It’ll make more of a mess if they do it’ becomes ‘I’ll just sweep up later!’

Having the space to be curious about how somebody feels, to consider what’s important for that person and how it feels when we ‘do for’ rather than ‘do with’ is an essential ingredient of the course.

On week 6 we ask participants to repeat the feelings exercise; “how might family members living with dementia feel when they are having a conversation with them?”. Our recent course generated the following words.

Week 1 Incapable
Week 6 Appreciated, Useful and Worthy

‘Mum used to fidget with her hands when I was doing jobs for her. Now we’re working together, she’s peeling the carrots, or folding the clean washing. She’s not fidgeting with her hands, she’s smiling.’ Family Caregiver, NE London.

Empowered Conversations is part of a national multi centred project being delivered in , and . The course is available to family/friends supporting a person with dementia living at home.

For more information - www.empowered-conversations.co.uk or watch this little film.

Springboard Oldham Dementia Carers Support Age UK Manchester Age UK Bury - The Jubilee Centre Age UK Oldham Age UK Blackburn With Darwen Age UK Wigan Borough Age UK Salford and Trafford Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre Bolton Dementia Support Healthwatch Salford Trafford Carers Centre Together Dementia Support Salford Loaves and Fishes Salford Media BBC Lancashire NELFT Beacon Dementia and Wellbeing

20/10/2026

Evening shoppers...for you lovely online shoppers, is there any chance you could pop this app on your phones? It gives you a little prompt when you go on certain websites, the company then makes a donation to the Empowered Conversations work. It doesn't't cost you a penny.

Help us when you shop with 7,000+ brands. Join now.

20/10/2026

If you love a dance, you will love a Dementia Disco!

The next disco is on the 30th October.

Details below, get your dancing shoes on and let us know how you get on!! A 5 - 7pm disco might even mean you can grab a chippy tea on the way home.

Trafford Carers Centre Trafford Libraries Trafford Community News Age UK Salford and Trafford

19/10/2026

This looks brilliant

We want to promote what looks like a fascinating and informative event arranged by Age UK Bolton and hosted at the Central library. Take a look and book a place!

17/10/2026

27,000 people have signed this petition to demand a change in Continued HealthCare. Still time to add your name

On Tuesday, Rachel Thompson, the Lewy Body Society-funded Consultant Specialist Admiral Nurse for Lewy body dementia, will represent us at the Department of Health and Social Care as a petition calling for NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) funding to be reviewed and fixed is handed in.

Almost than 27,000 people have signed the petition, organised by Dementia UK with support from 13 charities, including the Lewy Body Society.

CHC can fund a complete package of care for people with significant, ongoing health needs. We are calling for a fairer, more consistent process that recognises complex needs, includes condition-specific expertise and gives families support as they navigate assessments.

There is still time to add your name to the petition: https://action.dementiauk.org/fix-nhs-continuing-healthcare