Alzheimer’s Society announce the winners of the new Dementia Hero Awards 2021 at a star-studded virtual event

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The Dementia Hero Awards 2021 took place virtually this year, and honoured people from all walks of life who have done outstanding things during the pandemic to help people living with or affected by dementia – our Dementia Heroes. The pandemic hit people with dementia the worst – thousands have died, and many more rapidly deteriorating, from both the virus and the knock-on effect of lockdown, causing isolation and reduction in health and social care services.
 
Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Hero Awards are new awards designed to recognise the inspirational achievements of those individuals, groups and organisations who care for people with dementia, those finding innovative solutions in research, and the campaigners and media fighting for the rights of people with dementia. 
 
The awards were hosted by Alzheimer’s Society supporter, TV presenter, writer and journalist, Richard Madeley, with an array of celebrities presenting awards, including Carey Mulligan, Anne-Marie Duff, Sir Tony Robinson, Angela Rippon CBE and Judy Finnigan. Care Minister Helen Whately and co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Dementia, Baroness Sally Greengross, also presented awards at the event, which took place during Dementia Action Week (17-23 May), when Alzheimer’s Society launched the #CureTheCareSystem campaign, asking the public to take a stand and urge Government to transform the social care system for hundreds of thousands of families facing dementia by signing our petition. You can watch the awards, which were sponsored by Tunstall Healthcare, here. 
 
Paul Harvey, who rose to stardom last year after his song, ‘Four Notes, Paul’s Tune’ went viral, performed his new song, 'Hope', written especially for the virtual awards. Paul was awarded the Dementia Hero Award for Outstanding Achievement, on an evening that also recognised heroes in Care and Compassion, Professional Excellence, Dementia Friendly Businesses (Small/Medium and Large), Campaigning, Research, Innovation, Fundraising and Dementia Voice. You can view Paul’s moving acceptance speech on Twitter here.
 
The Dementia Hero Media Awards recognised journalists whose innovative and sensitive work covering dementia made a genuine impact, highlighting issues for those affected by dementia, raising awareness and challenging common perceptions of dementia.
 
The Dementia Hero Media Award 2021 for National Print/Online Journalism was won by the Daily Mail Health team (Sophie Borland, Eleanor Hayward & Ben Spencer) for their pioneering work on the crisis in social care. The Dementia Hero Award 2021 for National Broadcast journalism was jointly won by Alison Holt from BBC’s News at 10/Panorama and Curve Media who produced My Dementia Choir. 
 
The judging panel was made up of current and former journalists, and people affected by dementia: Jenny Hope, former Medical Correspondent of the Daily Mail; Laura Milne, Editorial Director, Movember Foundation; Nana Akua, BBC broadcast journalist and regular panellist for Good Morning Britain; Dianne Campbell who is living with dementia, and family carer Bethan Thompson.
 
In their joint feedback, the judges praised the Daily Mail Health team for the influence their social care campaign had on policy-makers: 'The strength of this entry was in the incredible team effort which thrust social care on to the front pages of the Daily Mail time and time again – it gave policy-makers nowhere to hide. Thanks to these stories, social care has taken its place at the top table of issues politicians cannot – and should not – ever ignore.'
 
Curve Media’s ‘Our Dementia Choir’ was hosted by Alzheimer’s Society ambassador Vicky McClure who tweeted after the awards, 'So proud of Our Dementia Choir, what a huge honour!'. The judges felt its positive representation of dementia was unlike most depictions of the condition in the media. They all scored the show highly for the overall message of positivity, unity through music and its strong scientific backbone. They felt the voices of the people in the choir, the carers and the people living with dementia, were appropriately focused on and made the viewer feel more hopeful than hopeless. Vicky McClure’s personal commitment was a golden thread running through this joyful journey.
 
The judges praised BBC’s Alison Holt for reporting on dementia as something of a 'passion piece' during the Covid-19 pandemic. Alison undertook the reporting on her own, demonstrating commitment, keen interest and enthusiasm, while her access to care homes early on in the pandemic gave her reports a real edge. 
 
The National finalists included: 
 
Dementia Hero Award for Print/Online Journalism:
Alison Graves – Platinum
Daily Mail Health 
Daily Mail Sport
Eleanor Hayward – Daily Mail
Amy Packer – Reach PLC
Rosie Sandall – Yours Magazine
Giles Sheldrick – Express
 
Dementia Hero Award for Broadcast Journalism:   
Sanchia Berg – BBC Radio 4
Lewis Goodall – Newsnight
Alison Holt – BBC News at 10/Panorama
Claire Kendall – BBC News
Curve Media – Our Dementia Choir
Virgin Media UK – Chris Evans Show
 
In the Regional categories, Andrew Edwards of BBC Radio Leeds won the Dementia Hero Award for Regional Broadcast Journalism, whilst Lisa Smyth of The Belfast Telegraph took home the award for Regional Print/Online Journalism.
 
Claire Grindal, Alzheimer’s Society’s Head of Media, said:
 
'Throughout the pandemic so many individuals, groups and organisations have gone above and beyond to support people affected by dementia. This year’s Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Hero Awards provided the perfect opportunity to celebrate the achievements of these unsung heroes. 
 
'Our Media Awards for National Print/Online and Broadcast journalism are an opportunity to acknowledge some of the incredible work our winners and nominees have done, making a huge difference to the 850,000 people living with dementia across the UK and their families.
 
'We are delighted that composer and musician Paul Harvey has won the Outstanding Achievement award for his deeply touching performances that have moved a nation and raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for people affected by dementia.
 
'Since the pandemic began, Alzheimer’s Society support services have been used over 5 million times, showing that people affected by dementia need us now more than ever.'
 
For more details of the awards, including a full list of winners for the different award categories, visit: alzheimers.org.uk/dementia-professionals/conferences-and-events/dementia-hero-awards