Our timeline
2013
As part of its Skills Development Strategy, Health Education: Kent, Surrey, and Sussex identified the need to enhance the skills and understanding of dementia in the healthcare workforce. Time for Dementia is conceptualised and a feasibility programme is funded.
2015
Aiming to enhance holistic understanding, knowledge, and attitudes of dementia, the Time for Dementia programme is launched at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and at University of Surrey. Though longitudinal contact with a family (person with dementia and their carer) over two years, healthcare students gain greater insight about the real-life experiences and challenges of living with a long-term condition like dementia in society. The programme was embedded as a mandatory component in the curriculum for two cohorts of medical, nursing, and paramedic undergraduate students.
2017
A mixed-methods evaluation is completed with 750 students and 429 families to understand their experiences and learning outcomes taking part in the programme. The positive outcomes found in both groups led to continued delivery of the programme in the existing universities and further funding (Health Education England; Kent, Surrey, and Sussex) to roll the programme across the region.
2018
New universities implement Time for Dementia. These include University of Brighton, Canterbury Christchurch University, and University of Greenwich. The programme is introduced to a wider range of undergraduate healthcare disciplines that included radiography, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy students.
2019
Health Education England funds the roll out of The Time for Dementia programme in University of Plymouth, University of Exeter and for Dietetics students at University of Surrey. Covid-19 disrupts face to face visits. Dynamic approaches are taken to continue delivering the programme using a virtual format.
2023
Face to face visits resume for most disciplines. With funding from NHS England (previously Health Education England) the Time for Dementia programme is expanded further and introduced to University of West of England, Kent and Medway Medical School, Southampton Medical School, University of Bournemouth, University of Chichester and University of Portsmouth.
2025
Philanthropic funding allows for the Time for Dementia programme to be set up for nursing students at University of Ulster.