Meet the Team

Dave Bevitt
Chief Officer

My name is Dave Bevitt and I have the privilege to be the Chief Officer at Bolton Dementia Support Group.

My background is in advice work as a Welfare Rights Officer (including a stint at Bolton Royal Hospital) and in running charities. I was CEO of Bury District Citizens Advice for over 20 years up to it’s merger with Bolton. I took voluntary redundancy and after a period of self employment went to work on Commissioning for Bolton CVS.

When the opportunity came up at Bolton Dementia Support I decided it was right up my street. My mother passed away with Dementia over 6 years ago and I remember vividly the challenges and support we received at the time including from Bolton Dementia Support as the illness progressed.

The first thing I recognised is that everyones experience is different but the value of sharing frustrations, triumphs and tips is huge for people caring for a loved one with dementia.

Second is that a diagnosis is not the end and people even at the advanced stage of the disease can have agency and communicate even if non verbal.

The last thing is that there are real problems in Bolton ( and I suspect nationally) with delays to early diagnosis which can have a major impact on the efficacy of medicines to slow the progression of the disease. It’s also the case that when people are discharged back to primary care living with dementia it is difficult to know what support and help is available. Peoples experiences vary tremendously.

This is where Bolton Dementia Support Group can help. We offer support and guidance in accessing support as well as training and information sharing events for carers, social events for people living with dementia and their carers.

We have a small but dedicated staff team who are focused on the wellbeing of our members and users supported by our fantastic volunteers, many of whom have first-hand experience of  living or supporting a loved one with dementia.

Dave

Dawn Exley
Dementia Care Officer

My name is Dawn, I am the Dementia Care Officer.

My role is to provide people living with dementia (PLWD), their families and carers with practical support, advice and access to resources, activities and community groups that will sustain as far as possible people’s independence existing lifestyle and relationships.

I have personal experience which I bring to the role, showing an empathy and compassion for the carer and cared for.

I will often be your first and ongoing point of contact.

I will be present at the Carers Equip sessions on a Tuesday Morning at Harwood Methodist church and at the Forget Me Not Garden at Quebec place on a Friday, as well as attending the memory cafes for face-to-face support.

Deb Selby
Activities Co-ordinator

Hello

My name is Deb Selby and I am the Activities Co-ordinator for Bolton Dementia Support (BDS).

My role, as Activities Coordinator, is to deliver our Memory Cafes. The cafes are social events where people can meet for a drink and a piece of cake, take part in a quiz and a raffle, and dance the afternoon away with our fantastic entertainers. Staff are available at the Cafes if anyone has any questions or needs any advice or support.

Natalie Warrick
BDS @ Home

My name is Natalie, I am the Bolton dementia support at home (BDS@home).

This is a service designed to rekindle former interest, activities, hobbies, and new interests with the person living with dementia (PLWD).

I deliver a series of meaningful, home based, therapeutic activities.

The activities can be anything from playing dominos, jigsaw puzzles, painting, drawing, colouring, walking, knitting, reminiscing and many more.

Sessions are delivered over a 6-week period with the opportunity to continue these sessions on as a paid service.

Alan Brown
Outdoors Development Officer

I am the Outdoors Development Officer for BDS. I have over 30 years experience delivering community-based food and food-growing projects in Bolton in both paid and voluntary roles. I have always been keen to involve people in food activities who might normally find it difficult to engage yet who stand to get so much out of it.

For people living with dementia and their carers outdoors activity in a supportive setting holds the potential of great benefits in terms of mental and physical well-being. I facilitate the Forget-Me-Not food growing project every Friday in Deane. This brings people together to do light gardening tasks. Over time it has built mutual support and lasting friendships.

I am also keen to hear about and promote any other outdoors activities in Bolton which are suitable for people living with dementia, for example walking groups.