DISCOVER Voices | disAbility Cornwall & IoS

In this episode, the Advocacy Fellows explore the topic of relationships and learning disabilities. They discuss why relationships are important, the barriers many people with learning disabilities face when forming friendships and intimate relationships, and the support that can help people build healthy, meaningful connections. The Fellows share their own experiences and perspectives on trust, c...

Welcome to the Advocacy Fellows Podcast, where young adults with learning disabilities speak openly about the issues that affect their lives. In this episode, the Advocacy Fellows explore a vital question: are people with learning disabilities being treated as equal adults in society? Research from the Office for National Statistics shows disabled people often report lower levels of personal wellb...

Welcome to this episode of the Advocacy Fellows Podcast, where young adults with learning disabilities speak openly about the issues that affect their lives. In this episode, the Advocacy Fellows share their personal experiences of the Covid-19 pandemic and the lasting impact it had on their mental health, education, friendships and daily routines.   The coronavirus pandemic had a devastating and...

In this episode, host Anna Lempriere speaks with Julie Fleming, a Specialist Community Dietitian with over 14 years’ experience in diabetes, nutrition, and community health across West Cornwall. Julie also has 27 years of experience as a fitness instructor, supporting people to build strength, confidence and better long-term health.   Together, Anna and Julie explore the essential question many pe...

In this episode of Conversations with Dr Theo Blackmore, Dr Theo sits down with Hayley Newman, a mother, counselor, and advocate, to discuss her experiences raising her daughter Natty, who has Down’s syndrome. Hayley shares the highs and lows of parenting a child with a learning disability, reflecting on the challenges of navigating the education system, transitioning from pediatric to adult care,...

In this episode of Conversations with Dr Theo Blackmore on the DISCOVER Voices network, Theo speaks with Jenny Williams, CEO and founder of Enhance The UK. Jenny shares her personal story of living with hearing loss and the experiences that led her to set up Enhance The UK. Together, they explore important but often overlooked conversations around sex, relationships, disability, and intimacy — inc...

Grief and Dementia | Dementia Toolkit Series | Cornwall Memory Cafe Podcast #33 In this episode of the Dementia Toolkit Series, host Anna Lempriere from the Cornwall Memory Café Network speaks with Anna Sadler, a clinical psychologist with Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Together, they explore the complex and personal journey of grief in the context of dementia, looking at how it affect...

Join Anna Lempriere from the Cornwall Memory Cafe Network as she hosts an insightful conversation with Sharon Lukert, author of Until My Memory Fails Me. In this episode, Sharon, a nurse and chaplain living with early-stage dementia, shares her journey, offering practical self-help strategies and emotional resilience techniques for those affected by dementia.  Discover how to foster emotional well...

In this episode host Anna Lempriere from the Cornwall Memory Cafe Network, part of disAbility Cornwall, speaks with Louise Brown, Associate at Coodes Solicitors. Together, they explore some of the key legal topics that affect people living with dementia and those who care for them.   Louise provides a clear and compassionate overview of Lasting Power of Attorney and mental capacity, including the...

In this episode, host Anna Lempriere speaks with Lorraine Butcher, a Queen’s Nurse and Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist with Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Lorraine shares her expert knowledge of Parkinson’s disease - explaining what it is, how it affects the brain and body, and why it can sometimes be linked to dementia. Whether you're living with Parkinson’s, supporting someone who is, o...

In this episode, Anna Lempriere speaks with Dina Holder, Community Engagement Manager at the Women’s Centre, about domestic abuse and family violence - particularly as it affects older people and those with dementia. With honesty, warmth, and deep experience, Dina shares how abuse can go unrecognised, why older adults are often underserved, and what support is available. This conversation offers i...

Welcome to the very first episode of Positive Voices, part of the DISCOVER Voices network by disAbility Cornwall. Hosted by Max – the volunteer host for this series and former trustee of Kernow Positive Support. This podcast aims to break stigma, share real stories, and shine a light on what it means to live well with HIV today. In this introductory episode, Max shares his own journey with HIV, re...

In this powerful episode of the Advocacy Fellows Podcast, we mark Learning Disability Week by exploring the theme "Do You See Me?" - a celebration of the contributions, achievements, and individuality of people with learning disabilities.   The Advocacy Fellows take the mic to bust common myths and share real stories. They open up about being ignored or misunderstood, facing barriers to support an...

In this episode, Anna Lempriere from the Cornwall Memory Cafe Network is joined by the inspiring Grania McKittrick, Outreach and Development Lead at Lorenzo’s House – a U.S.-based nonprofit offering support for families affected by young onset dementia. Together, they explore how Lorenzo’s House was born from lived experience and the urgent need to support children and families navigating the chal...

For Learning Disability Week, the Advocacy Fellows are shining a light on special educational needs (SEND) and meeting the inspiring young ambassadors from SEND It Forward, a youth voice project within Action for Children Kernow Connect. 📚 With over 1.6 million pupils in England needing extra support and 400,000+ with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), we ask: are their voices being heard?...

In this episode of Care to Speak, host Steve Horscroft sits down with Mandy May, a dedicated carer navigating the challenges of both professional and unpaid family care. Mandy shares her personal experiences caring for her mother, who has dementia and arthritis, as well as the journey of arranging support, accessing adult social care and ensuring her mum stays connected and engaged. 🧡 Topics cove...

In this episode of the Dementia Together Toolkit podcast, Anna Lempriere speaks with Jane and Jay from the Cornwall Rural Community Charity (CRCC) about technology-enabled care and how digital support can improve life for people living with dementia and their carers. Learn how CRCC’s Digital Together project – in partnership with Cornwall Council and others – is making technology more accessible a...

In this episode of the Dementia Together Toolkit series, we speak with Karen Malkin, Clinical Lead Manager for the Dementia Liaison Service in Cornwall. Karen provides expert advice on the importance of early planning for dementia care, particularly focusing on the crucial steps to take before a diagnosis progresses. Karen explains how to navigate issues like mental capacity, and why it’s importan...

In this episode, we’re joined by Allison O'Kelly, an advanced clinical practitioner with extensive experience in the Memory Assessment Service in Cornwall. Alison shares her journey into dementia care, discussing the evolution of the Memory Assessment Service and its crucial role in diagnosing and supporting those with dementia. With a background in clinical practice, Alison explains how the servi...

🎧 Listen to the podcast now and hear how your stories are helping to challenge policy, shift attitudes, and push for accessible, inclusive parking across Cornwall. A massive thank you to the 629 people who responded to our Blue Badge parking survey, especially the 250+ who shared detailed comments. Your voices have made one thing clear: the system is not working for many of us, and it's time for...

Let's Talk Bladder & Bowel Health In this essential episode, host Anna Lempriere speaks with bladder and bowel specialist Jordan Trevelyan about an often-overlooked aspect of dementia care. With compassion and clarity, Jordan offers practical advice, expert tips, and reassurance around common continence concerns faced by people living with dementia and those who support them. From early warnin...

Did You Know? 90% of Dementia-Related Injuries Are Due to Falls. Two-thirds of people living with dementia are at risk of falls. Welcome to this eye-opening episode of the Common Memory Café Podcast, where we dive deep into the critical topic of falls among people living with dementia. In this episode, our expert guest, Paul Cadger, Dementia Education Lead at Kernow Health CIC, shares his extensiv...

In this insightful episode of the Cornwall Memory Cafe Podcast, host Anna Lempriere speaks with communications specialist Susie Inman about an exciting initiative to improve digital inclusion across Cornwall — particularly for older people, carers, and those living with dementia. Susie shares how the Digital Inclusion Team at Cornwall Council is supporting community organisations to recruit and tr...

In this episode, Anna is joined by Dr Simon Vann Jones, Consultant Psychiatrist in Older People’s Mental Health and the NIHR Dementia Research Lead for the South West. Simon shares personal insight into what drew him to dementia care, discusses current treatments including Donepezil and Memantine, and offers an expert view on emerging research and clinical trials. With a warm, relaxed tone and cle...

Welcome back to The Advocacy Fellows Podcast – where young adults with learning disabilities speak up, share stories and inspire change. In this episode, we explore public transport in Cornwall and how a lack of access can seriously affect people living in rural communities. From missing bus services to long travel times and inaccessible routes, our Fellows share personal stories, insights and exp...