Funding for support

We fund support programmes and initiatives that enable people affected by neurodegenerative diseases of ageing to live dignified and fulfilling lives, and ease the burden on their carers.

Image credit: Dementia Research Centre, Institute of Neurology, UCL

We know that neurodegenerative diseases of ageing have a profound impact on people’s lives and can place an enormous strain on those who love and care for them. Although these diseases are degenerative and ultimately terminal, we believe that people living with them are entitled to a high quality of life and can still make valuable contributions to society. We further believe that greater innovation is needed in the development and delivery of effective care models and networks that enable individuals to be appropriately supported and cared for, whether that be in the family home or in healthcare or social care settings. We want to ensure that everyone diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease of ageing has somewhere to turn and is able to access reliable information and resources, specialist advice, and peer support.

As a foundation we are aware that the impact of these diseases on caregivers is not always felt equally. Reports by organisations including Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society suggest that women are much more likely to provide unpaid care to adult relatives, while marginalised groups, including minorities and those on low income, face more barriers to accessing diagnosis and support. Our funding addresses these issues by supporting projects that:

  • recognise both the complexity of living with neurodegenerative diseases of ageing and the potential for people affected by them to continue to lead fulfilling lives;
  • offer social, emotional and practical support for people with these diseases and those who care for them;
  • explore innovative ways of delivering support to make it available to as wide a demographic as possible;
  • adopt a collaborative approach, working with existing groups, networks and services where possible;
  • have the potential to scale to larger populations, thereby maximising impact; and
  • conduct research to measure their effectiveness.

Information on the criteria and application process for our funding programme for support will be available later in 2024. If you have any questions, please email us at contact@galenhilarywestonfoundation.org

Click below to read about a highly successful support project we have funded over the past few years.