About Us

Exeter Dementia Action Alliance (EDAA) is a charitable foundation governed by GivingWorks. We run a range of activities raising awareness of dementia alongside many partners and allies working towards a dementia-friendly city.

We believe that Exeter should be a city in which every organisation respects and values everybody affected by dementia and make practical changes to enable people with dementia to live independently and empowered to participate in the community. 

We have been raising awareness of dementia across the city since 2015 and during this time have received local, regional, and national recognition for innovative approaches to the challenges placed by dementia on families and communities.

The Alliance has delivered over 200 Dementia awareness sessions reaching over 3,000 individuals to organisations and community groups across the city. These sessions have inspired practical change such as dementia accessible signage, dementia friendly cinema screenings, a GP Dementia friendly pocket resource guide distributed across Devon, links with schools and care homes. Cartoonist Tony Husband has been a great supporter of our work and together we have created two fully illustrated calendars generating wide appeal as an exceptional educational resource.

Gina Awad who founded and leads the Alliance is proud to share her book ‘United – Caring for Our Loved Ones Living with Dementia’, illustrated by Tony Husband. It is a short read with a big heart following seven families sharing their personal stories of living with dementia.

“A beautiful and vividly moving book that brings home the challenges faced those with dementia and their carers” – Sir Tony Robinson

We are proud that United has been selected for the national Reading Agency Reading Well for Dementia book list. Reading Well for dementia recommends helpful reading for people living with dementia. There are also books on the list for family members, friends and carers. The books provide reliable information, advice and support as well as personal stories. Find out more here.

Exeter COSY routes is one of our other projects, a well-being initiative accessible to all that circles the city at a marathon distance. The opportunity to absorb the scenery of our fantastic city whilst supporting our physical and mental health. It can be walked as part of a team building exercise, family or group of friends or on your own. At a distance of 26.2 miles encompassing 8 smaller routes a number of keen runners have enjoyed running it. Featured on Songs of Praise during Dementia Action Week in May in 2021 we are very proud of what we’ve created and intend to develop. Find out more here

Exeter Dementia Action Alliance Foundation works in aid of GivingWorks Charity Number – 1078770.