SPIN-D Network+ Collaboration with the Lewisham Youth Brain Health Project
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SPIN-D Network+ Collaboration with the Lewisham Youth Brain Health Project

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The Youth Involvement and Engagement Lab (YIEL), Lewisham Young Mayor and Young Advisors Team, and members of the SPIN-Dementia Network+ partnered to develop an innovative youth-led approach to brain health engagement. Seeking to empower young people as advocates for dementia prevention, they jointly applied for and secured funding from Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Inspire Fund (£5,000, ARUK-IF2024-SF76) to deliver the Lewisham Youth Brain Health Project — a six-month pilot designed to raise awareness of brain health and dementia prevention across the borough.

The project used a Dementia Champion model to train and mentor young people, particularly from underserved and underrepresented communities in Lewisham. Applicants to the Youth Brain Health Champion (YBHC) roles were interviewed by SPIN-D members Professor Jackie Parkes, Dr Tomasina Oh, and Dr Kritika Samsi, after which six young people were selected. SPIN-D provided two days of intensive training covering brain health, dementia research, advocacy, and community engagement skills.

Following the training, the Youth Brain Health Champions researched, scripted, and recorded four radio programmes for Radio Lewisham, exploring brain health, dementia prevention, public health support, and lived-experience storytelling. They also began coordinating outreach activities, including planned listening sessions and workshops across local schools and youth clubs, aiming to engage around 750 young people and promote intergenerational dialogue about brain health and dementia.

The initiative placed a strong emphasis on representation from Lewisham’s Black and low-income communities, ensuring inclusivity in both participation and impact. The project also supports SPIN-D’s aim to establish a UK-wide Young People’s Advisory Group on Brain Health, embedding youth perspectives in dementia research and policy.

In July 2025, the Youth Brain Health Champions presented their work at the SPIN-D Network+ Festival of Science and Arts of Brain Health and Dementia at UCL East, where their contributions received wide recognition for their creativity and community impact.

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