Dementia Awareness at the Dulwich College Christmas Fair

Each year, Dulwich College hosts one of South East London’s largest community Christmas fairs, bringing together hundreds of local families, charities and vendors. The college hall was transformed into a festive market full of gift stalls, games, and a Father Christmas visit. The one-day fair attracts many visitors, who explore an array of stalls presented by local groups and organisations. In late November, the Home Instead Wandsworth, Lambeth & Dulwich was invited by Dulwich College to join this beloved holiday tradition and set up a stall at the Christmas Fair. This time we took part to raise awareness about dementia, and share helpful information about support available in the community. At our stall in the college, we created a welcoming space where visitors could stop by, ask questions, and learn more about our work.

How We Prepared Our Stall

Our booth was bright and welcoming, draped in Home Instead’s signature white banners and simple Christmas decorations. On the table, we laid out brochures and flyers about our home care and specialist dementia services, helping visitors understand the range of support available. Our team members spoke with visitors individually, offering clear and reassuring explanations about how our care services operate. We also had giveaways to draw people in, including chocolates and stuffed toys, which encouraged more people to start a conversation.

Raising Dementia Awareness

At the fair, we made dementiahom awareness a priority. We explained to visitors how our Dementia Cafés, friendly social meet-ups held in Dulwich and surrounding areas, provide a supportive, stigma-free space for people living with memory loss and their carers. We also shared simple holiday activity tips that can brighten the day for someone with dementia, such as decorating together or enjoying a shared meal.

With nearly one million people living with dementia in the UK today, we emphasised that learning together helps everyone offer better support. It was wonderful to see parents and grandparents stop by our table to discuss caring for their elders, often accompanied by children excited to grab a treat. To this end, we introduced visitors to the Dementia Friends initiative, delivering short, interactive sessions that explain what dementia is and demonstrate “the little everyday ways everyone can help make a difference.” These sessions, which typically last 30–45 minutes, use fun activities to help young people understand what it’s like to live with dementia. In a strong show of support, the college has specifically asked us to run Dementia Friends information sessions for its students. By educating the next generation, Home Instead helps build a more dementia-friendly community.

Our Experience Collaborating with Dulwich College

We are immensely grateful for Dulwich College’s ongoing support. Hosting our stall and inviting us to share information about our Dementia Friends initiative are just a few ways the college actively helps our cause. The College’s volunteer-run fair is itself a wonderful community effort, and it is truly heartening to know they see the value in having a trusted home care provider like us participate. Dulwich College embodies a spirit of community action by blending charitable work with education. The warm connections made have been deeply inspiring.

As we reflect on the event, we are inspired by the warmth and connection we felt at the Dulwich College Christmas Fair. We leave the season thankful for everyone who stopped by and for a partnership that genuinely delivers essential guidance and invaluable support to the community. As always, Home Instead Wandsworth & Dulwich is here to support local families. We encourage anyone interested in learning more about our personalised home care or memory-support programs to get in touch. From our family to yours, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas!