About Dignity in Dementia

Jenny Connor

Manager

Jenny joined Dignity in Dementia in early 2025, with a view to leading the organisation when the founders retired and ensuring its smooth transition to a registered charity. With a professional background in health and social care, she also brings valuable experience of developing and managing a business that supports older people, together with considerable enthusiasm and fresh ideas.

Jenny oversees Dignity in Dementia’s day-to-day operations. Her responsibilities include planning and delivering activity groups, managing projects, responding to referrals and acting as the main point of contact for families. She also manages the organisation’s day-to-day finances and provides regular reports to the Board of Trustees.

Janet Bowers

Chair of Trustees

Janet cared for her husband, who had dementia, and received support from Dignity in Dementia during that time. Having found our approach extremely helpful, she was keen to become involved in our work following her husband’s death. She initially joined Dignity in Dementia CIC as a Director and has since become the Chair of Trustees of Dignity in Dementia

Ruth Sedgwick

Trustee

Ruth has been involved with Dignity in Dementia for many years, initially attending some of our activities with her husband, who was living with dementia. Following his death, she became a valued volunteer and, when the organisation transitioned to charitable status, joined our Board of Trustees in September 2026.

Carly Taylor

Trustee

Carly has many years experience of health and social care management.  She joined the Board of Trustees in September 2026 as Treasurer.

Diane Smilie

Consultant

Diane, one of the two founders of Dignity in Dementia, now works with the charity in a consultancy role, focusing on delivering our dementia care courses and our Behaviour Support Service.

Lesley Gill

Consultant

Lesley, one of the two founders of Dignity in Dementia, now works with the charity in a consultancy role, focusing on grant applications, project evaluations and annual reports.

Our Advisory Group

To ensure that the information we provide is relevant and meaningful to people with dementia and their family members we facilitate an informal Advisory Group. The group comprises of people with early stage dementia and family carers who attend our activity groups, as well as individuals who have completed our Dignity in Dementia Family Carers course.  They are very well placed to suggest new developments and share their opinions about our many ideas. Additionally, they help keep us abreast of the realities of caring for someone with dementia on a daily basis.