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.

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.
 

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.

Suafina Aslam

Volunteer Co-ordinator

Suafina has over 25 years’ experience in the voluntary sector through community engagement. She is passionate about empowering and supporting communities who for whatever reason experience exclusion and isolation from wider society. She enjoys making a real and lasting difference by working to enable people to improve their lives through, education, training, volunteering and employment. 

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Alongside her working, Suafina has also volunteered for a number of organisations such as Lancashire Constabulary, Sisters 4 Sisters, Salvation Army and Pukar Disability Resource Centre.

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Suafina has a keen interest in developing communities and developing strong links with other agencies which help feed into the development and delivery of services.

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!

SOLOMON HAYES

Business Support Officer

Solomon is a recent graduate from the University of Sheffield, studying an MA in International Development. He has experience in customer service, and has volunteered as the social media manager for another charity. He completed an internship with the International Land Coalition. He is passionate about working in the charity sector and particularly focused on fundraising.

ANNE de ROUFFIGNAC 

Groups Business Support Officer

Anne has volunteered with Together Dementia Support from almost the beginning, including our Alexandra Park Walk & Talk and her current role as Lead Volunteer. She recently gained a Postgraduate Certificate in Dementia Care from the University of Manchester. Anne led our Tech Together project, supporting members and carers with keeping in touch online during lockdown, and has a passion for building music playlists for our members, listening out for those vital few words or melodies that help them to sing, dance and shine! We are very excited to welcome her to our staff team. 

DOROTHY ALLEN

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.

JO BRIZLAND-CULLEN

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.

RUKAIYA PANDOR

Rukaiya is passionate about helping people live with good quality of life. She ahs worked in Trafford’s Health & Social Care sector for over 25 years, including 10 years as a carer and 15 years at Learn, Motivate, Change, Prosper (LMCP) supporting the South Asian community. Her experience includes community engagement, promoting culturally appropriate services within health & social care, and social care Personal Assistant training. She has a creative background in Creative Design for Fashion, and in her free time enjoys travelling and discovering new and different foods.

ZSUZSA FÖLDES (Suzi)

Zsuzsa joined Together Dementia Support in August 2021 as a Dementia Group Leader, and she also works with the Carers Manchester South Partnership. She has experience working with older adults as a carer, and is also a registered music therapist as well as doing her PhD in music therapy. She is passionate about music and supporting people with Dementia and their carers.

ANNA HULME

Anna joined Together Dementia Support in 2021 as a Dementia Group Leader after spending 20 years as a Personal Trainer and Ballet Barre Fitness Instructor within the local community. She has a keen interest in behaviour change, mental health and overall well-being. She achieved a degree in Sport Psychology, specialising in the Pyscholog of Ageing and Motivational Interviewing. 

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Alongside her work she has volunteered at many local groups including day centres for Age UK and at Rafiki peer support group at Salford University. Anna is also an active volunteer for British Cycling helping at local events in Alexandra Park, another aspect of her volunteering is as a Guided Ride Leader.

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Seeing smiles on faces, caring for others and combating isolation is what she hopes to achieve at TDS.

MIKE TAYLOR

Mike has recently joined the team after working in the hair industry for 42 years, working in all aspects of the hair styling, cutting, product education with a well known hair product company. He his passionate about his role as a Dementia group leader and has also spent time visiting members at home, in his role as a Dementia Support worker. His interests include music, exploring all types of music as well as performing live, and working in the studio.

DAPHNEY THOMPSON

Daphney is a loyal volunteer with Together Dementia Support who has now joined our staff team to support members and carers in Trafford. She worked for HMRC for many years but has also volunteered with vulnerable people, in helping roles. She also has experience of dementia in her family and so brings this lived-experience perspective to her support role.