Meet the Team
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Meet the team
SALLY FERRIS BSc, MA, MSc Dementia Care
Founder & CEO
Sally has worked with older people in Manchester, Trafford and Salford for 30 years. She has an MSc in Dementia Care and has managed the Dementia Support Service for Salford Age UK, running a DoH pilot project to set up and evaluate peer support for people with dementia. Sally loves the opportunities TDS has to have to offer innovative services that respond to local people’s needs – to make a difference on the ground.
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FIONA BROWN
Business Support Manager
Fiona has spent the last ten years working in the public sector across Greater Manchester. Her experience includes programmes across public policy, health, arts, heritage, culture and co-ordinating public sector responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. For her, joining the TDS team was a natural step, where she can put her skills and experience into action to make a real difference to the lives of everyday people in Manchester.
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CLAIRE MARRETT
Senior Dementia Group Leader
Claire joined TDS in 2019, and has worked in Salford for the last ten years – supporting carers and people living Dementia for Age UK Salford. She also did engagement work with the Institute for Dementia at Salford University. She has a PGCert in Dementia and the Enabling Environment.
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CHERYL HOWARTH
Finance Business Support Officer
Cheryl joined TDS at the beginning of 2021 and her main role is to look after the bookkeeping function but also helps out with Administration when required. She is new to the charity sector, having previously worked for many years in a similar accounts/admin role with a small company organising training events for local authority staff and councillors. She likes to spend her spare time researching family history and is also a keen ballroom dancer!
In the Office
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DOROTHY ALLEN
Dementia Group Leader
Dorothy has worked for TDS for a number of years, assisting with the ‘Together in Song’ Gospel Choir and then also running the ‘Game for the Brain’ group. Dorothy has been a carer herself, looking after her Dad with dementia. Dorothy says: ‘It has been extremely satisfying supporting members who otherwise may not interact outside of the home, and begin to see them socialise and form friendships’. Dorothy also works as an Occupational Health Nurse, sings in her spare time, and is very active in her local church at Brooks Bar.
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JO BRIZLAND-CULLEN
Dementia Group Leader
Jo is a Dementia Group Leader with 30 years’ experience of working with older people. She has worked as a Hospital Discharge & Reablement Service Manager, and is a qualified Fitness & Brain Health Trainer, and Yoga teacher. She has spoken publicly about her dad’s journey with dementia; he had early onset Frontal Temporal Dementia. Jo is passionate about improving life for those living with Dementia and their carers.
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FAIZA CHAUDHRI
Dementia Group Leader
Faizarunning the pioneering ‘Pyaari Yaadein’ group and developing our service to South Asian people affected by dementia. Having grown up in Manchester, she is well connected in the local communities which has been invaluable in starting a new group. She has experience in community health development, counselling and training. Faiza brings this experience, together with that of caring for family members, and her natural enthusiasm, into her work.
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ALI SARWAR
Dementia Group Leader
Ali is a part-time Dementia Support worker who works with the Pyaari Yaadein group and is developing our service to South Asian members of our community affected by Dementia. Alis is a qualified solicitor and is passionate about working with those living with Dementia and their carers, especially those who cold be very vulnerable due to language difficulties.
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RACHEL SPEIRS
Dementia Group Leader
As well as her work with TDS, Rachel is also a freelance singer, singing teacher, and music facilitator and recently graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music. She recently became co-Director of SoundUp Arts CIC and has also worked with Healthy Arts in Wigan. She has also previously held an administration role at the RNCM as Chorus Manager. Rachel loves cooking (especially curries!) and doing yoga in her spare time.
Dementia Group Leaders
Dementia Support Workers
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SHAFA BEGUM
Dementia Support Worker
Shafa joined Together Dementia Support in August 2020, and help with the Urdu and Bengali support we offer. For the past 16 years, she has worked at the Bangladeshi Women's Organisation as a mental health worker supporting Bangladeshi women with mental health issues. She has been involved in running peer support groups which give advice / advocacy work on benefits, housing, debt, appeals etc. Supporting people living with Dementia is something that is close to her heart as she helped care for her father who lived with Dementia for 10 years.
Drivers
