11/06/2026
Thousands of people living with dementia and their families will benefit from a major new support programme after Health for Life secured almost £5 million from The National Lottery Community Fund.
The five-year SEEDS (Sharing, Engaging & Empowering Dementia Support) programme will help people living with dementia to stay active, connected and independent in their communities, while also providing vital support for carers and families.
The programme builds on the success of the award-winning DEEDS project in Derry and Strabane, which has helped people living with dementia to improve their wellbeing, reduce isolation and live well with dementia for longer.
Over the next five years, SEEDS will provide direct social and wellbeing support to more than 4,000 families affected by dementia. It will also support around 150 community organisations to adopt and adapt the proven DEEDS model, strengthen links between community organisations and health services, share learning across different regions and help shape the future of community-based dementia care.
The programme will expand across all five health trusts in the north of Ireland while also supporting organisations in England and Wales to deliver similar approaches in their own communities.
SEEDS builds on a model developed in Derry and Strabane which recognises that while medical care is essential, people living with dementia also need social connection, daily support and community engagement to live well.
This significant investment from The National Lottery Community Fund will help ensure that more people living with dementia - and the people who care for them - can access the support, connection and opportunities they need to live fuller, more connected lives.
SEEDS is delivered in partnership with the Healthy Living Centre Alliance, Care Merseyside, Age Cymru, Age UK Barnet, Causeway Urban & Rural Network, Peninsula Healthy Living Partnership, HEART Project and Clanrye Group, alongside community delivery partners including Shantallow Community Centre, Hillcrest Trust, Strabane District Caring Services, Caw Nelson Drive Action Group, Learmount Community Group, EBCDA Belfast, Reach Out Belfast, Loughgiel Community Association, County Down Rural Community Network and Rural Health Partnership.
