Meet the Team
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In the Office
SALLY FERRIS, BSc, MA, MSc Dementia Care
CEO
Sally has worked with older people in Manchester, Trafford and Salford for over 35 years, in the NHS, Social Services, and the voluntary sector. She has an MSc in Dementia Care and through that learned about the evidence base for interventions that can help people with dementia live happier lives. It was that learning, together with her observation that there was nothing on offer for people in Manchester, that led Sally to set up Together Dementia Support.
Sally wanted to prioritise the needs and wellbeing of people living with dementia. If they are content and living well then families often feel happier too! Sally is proud of how TDS has grown and it has achieved over the last nine years but remains passionate that we need more systematic improvement in services for people affected by dementia and hopes the TDS team can help to bring that change about.
When Sally isn’t working, she loves gardening and walking.
CLAIRE MARRETT
TDS Service Delivery Manager
Claire joined TDS in 2019, and has worked in Salford for the last ten years, supporting carers and people living Dementia for Age UK Salford. She also did engagement work with the Institute for Dementia at Salford University. She has a PGCert in Dementia and the Enabling Environment.
CHERYL HOWARTH
Finance Business Support Officer
Cheryl joined TDS at the beginning of 2021 and her main role is to look after the bookkeeping function but also helps out with Administration when required. She is new to the charity sector, having previously worked for many years in a similar accounts/admin role with a small company organising training events for local authority staff and councillors. She likes to spend her spare time researching family history and is also a keen ballroom dancer!
MARY SHARPLES
Volunteer & Dementia Support Co-ordinator
Mary joined TDS in January 2024. In her life and work she's passionate about growing communities where everyone is welcomed, included and celebrated. She moved to Manchester as a student, and after graduating spent 2 and a half years working with student and local communities through the university chaplaincy at St Peter's House. In her spare time, she is often found outdoors - in the mountains or in a kayak, and she's a big fan of oat milk lattes and colourful vegetables.
JULIE THORNHILL
Senior Administrator
Julie has a lot of expereinc eworkong in the community sector she has run food pantries and community projects. She has a background in sales and recruitment and more recently ran her own Community Cookery Business.
Julie provides comprehensive administrative support to the team and acts as PA to the CEO. Being the administrator for a small but busy charity is a really interesting and varied role incorporating social media, logistics, catering for events as well as diary management and updating databases.
Julie loves a varied and busy workload and being useful to people.
Dementia Support Co-ordinators
JO BRIZLAND-CULLEN
Dementia Support Co-ordinator
Jo is a Dementia Group Leader with 30 years' experience of working with older people. She has worked as a Hospital Discharge & Reablement Service Manager, and is a qualified Fitness & Brain Health Trainer, and Yoga teacher. She has spoken publicly about her dad's journey with dementia; he had early onset Frontal Temporal Dementia. Jo is passionate about improving life for those living with Dementia and their carers.
BETH LANGWORTHY
Dementia Support Co-ordinator
Beth joined TDS in August 2023, after having a social work placement with the team in 2022. After completing her social work masters at the university of Manchester, Beth spent a year working as an independent mental capacity advocate in Manchester. Beth was inspired by the work TDS carries out and wrote her masters dissertation around the experiences of those living with dementia taking part in participatory arts activities. Beth has experience of dementia within her family and is passionate about supporting the carers and those living with dementia.
VICKY MATTHEWS
Sessional Dementia Support Co-ordinator
Vicky started with us as a volunteer, helping in our groups and then Together at Home. She began sessional work with us covering the Wythenshawe group in 2023 and has been a tour-de-force of positive, creative group leading since!
PAULA McGUIRE
Carer Support Co-ordinator
Paula has had a rich and interesting career; from running her own care and ‘meals on wheels’ agency to more recent roles working in sales & marketing in the health industry. Paula’s parents ran a care home, so she has always been involved in care work.
Paula will be splitting her time across the Carers Manchester South Partnership on our behalf, and supporting carers here at TDS. Spending time with her family and loved ones is the most important thing to her. Having a big blended family means there is always something going on!
SHABNAM PARVEEN
Dementia Support Co-ordinator
Shabnam has a diverse background spanning over two decades in education, community service, and charity work. With a degree in Education, her career began at Manchester Business School and Manchester University.
She has previously worked in Sure Start Children’s Centres, Islamic Relief, The NSPCC and Action For Humanity. She managed The Little Hands Mother & Toddler Group, and during the COVID pandemic worked with Together Dementia Support’s Pyaari Yaadein Group. She joined us as a Dementia Support Co-ordinator in 2024. She has a passion for education, community engagement and empowering individuals.
HOLLY TAGGART
Dementia Support Co-ordinator
Holly has recently joined the team. She moved to Manchester from the North of Ireland as a student, graduating in Speech and Language therapy. Holly was inspired to work with people living with Dementia whilst on her university placements working within the community. She is new to the charity sector, but feels this is an exciting opportunity to be able to engage and transform many people’s lives. Holly’s happy place is eating really good food and listening to music with her friends.
She feels that this role is a privilege and she is delighted to be a part of the vibrant and caring community that is TDS.
Dementia Support Workers
MIKE TAYLOR
Dementia Support Worker
Mike has recently joined the team after working in the hair industry for 42 years, working in all aspects of the hair styling, cutting, product education with a well known hair product company. He his passionate about his role as a Dementia group leader and has also spent time visiting members at home, in his role as a Dementia Support worker. His interests include music, exploring all types of music as well as performing live, and working in the studio.
DAPHNEY THOMPSON
Dementia Support Worker
Daphney is a loyal volunteer with Together Dementia Support who has now joined our staff team to support members and carers in Trafford. She worked for HMRC for many years but has also volunteered with vulnerable people, in helping roles. She also has experience of dementia in her family and so brings this lived-experience perspective to her support role.
Drivers
