Hope for Home is very privileged to have the world famous jazz singer and composer, Jacqui Dankworth, as a Patron. Jacqui is currently undertaking a UK tour and recently performed at the Blackheath Concert Halls, which are local to our base. Jacquie writes: ‘My aunt was a gifted, inspirational and very accomplished classical musician. In addition to performing music, she also taught music teachers how to teach music well. In her latter years she suffered from Alzheimer's Disease, and so I have some direct understanding of how the person themself, their families and friends can be affected by dementia. I am delighted to support the pioneering projects that Hope for Home is leading, and I am very enthusiastic about promoting its work.’

Hope for Home is delighted that Joyce Simard has kindly agreed to be a Patron. Professor Simard has developed and pioneered the Namaste approach for people with dementia across the world for many years. She developed Namaste Care when she realised that people with advanced dementia were excluded from typical activity programmes offered in care homes. She introduced and pioneered this approach throughout the USA, Australia and next year Namaste Care will be implemented in the Netherlands. She believes that people with an advanced dementia can live not just exist throughout the disease process. This programme is based on ‘the power of loving touch’ and carers use hand massage, gentle combing of a person’s hair and offering special treats helps ensure quality of life until the end of life. Namaste Carers also bring the outside inside with bits of nature such as wild flowers in the spring, colourful leaves in the autumn and perhaps a snowball in the winter. These items bring back fond memories of the past.

Sarah has over 35 years experience of working both in and alongside the National Health Service, first as a physiotherapist specialising in care of elderly people at home, and then as a senior general manager. She also is qualified to teach adults. Sarah has worked in many multi-agency settings, with both clinicians and managers, and this work has included working with Social Services, the voluntary sector and the Police. Sarah also has extensive experience in developing public health policy.

Lourdes has an extensive background in Community Development and Social Enterprise. With a background in psychology, Lourdes was the first Namaste Manager for our funded project in Newham, developing this project as a world first, from scratch and bringing it into the mainstream. Lourdes currently works for Macmillan as their Engagement Manager for London.

Yvette has worked in the City of London for over 30 years, as both a practising lawyer and, since 2011, as a Senior Manager in a law firm responsible for early careers programming, talent acquisition, professional development, HR and diversity & inclusion. She lived near Blackheath for 18 years before moving to Crystal Palace and now resides in Chelmsford. She is a Mum to four incredible children (now young adults) and is married to Jonathan, the Archdeacon of Chelmsford. Yvette confesses to having had limited encounters or exposure to those experiencing or affected by dementia, but she is compassionate and kind, appreciates the challenges the illness presents and has a willingness to support the charity and the amazing work it is doing in communities. She is also a very organised and busy person, adept at juggling priorities and making things happen and is delighted to be able to contribute in any way she can to support the board of trustees.

David Sprackling was born in Nottingham in 1963, educated at Nottingham High School and went on to read Law at Jesus College, Cambridge (1982–85). He qualified as a solicitor, working in the City of London and in Birmingham before going on to do an MLitt in theology at Oxford. He then joined the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, a specialised unit within the Cabinet Office which drafts all government legislation. The bulk of his career was spent drafting Bills on all subjects from aircraft to zoos and embryology to pensions. He was promoted to Director General within the civil service in 2012, managing a team of drafters and sharing in the joint leadership of OPC. For several years he was in charge of drafting the annual Finance Bill. David retired in 2023 and was subsequently awarded an OBE for public service. David is spending his retirement enjoying cycling, travel and opera with his partner and in trying to improve his Italian. David has had and continues to have some caring responsibilities, his mother (now aged 88) having been housebound for many years. Very recently, with her mental and physical health still sadly declining, she has moved to a care home to be near David’s sister in Wales.