BU Research Blog

On Saturday 14^th June 2014, BUDI hosted its Dementia Showcase as part of BU’s  Festival of Learning Week. The event was held at the Life Centre (711-715 Wimborne Road, BH9 2AU) and we were able to reach an audience of approximately 90 people. During the event, members of our team were able to showcase their work, including BUDI’s  ‘Living Well with Dementia in Dorset‘ video, alongside stands from Younger 4 Longer, and the Dementia Friends.

The BUDI Orchestra performance was a highlight of the Showcase and was opened by the High Sheriff of Dorset, Jane Stichbury. The performance was a culmination of 10 weekly rehearsals, working collaboratively with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and BU Music scholars and students. This pilot project was the first of its kind worldwide, and we were privileged to have worked with such a fantastic group of people. The entire audience was completely captivated from start to finish, and we were all left feeling impassioned by their emotive rendition of Moon River. The group received two standing ovations from the crowd and their own pride and enjoyment was clear to behold. The Orchestra proves that dementia isn’t a life sentence: their achievements show us that people living with dementia are still full of life and creativity, and can still make invaluable contributions to our lives. Indeed, this was noted in feedback from the audience themselves!

BUDI would like to thank all those who supported us on the day, and helped to make it such a special event for all those taking part. We were able to share the work we do within the community and showcase our innovative social science research in a way that was fun for all the family. We look forward to seeing you at our next event soon!