Chris Maddocks, who has been working with the trust’s Dementia team to share her ‘lived experience’ of dementia, has recently been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the King’s Birthday Honours list.
Chris Maddocks (centre) with colleagues from the Trust
This has been in recognition of her advocacy work for people living with Dementia, particularly Lewy Body Dementia and LGBTQAI+ dementia communities. Chris has shared her story world-wide, bringing hope and support to many.
Chris is a member of several local groups including Sea DEEP. “DEEP, Dementia Engagement and Empowerment Project, is the UK network of dementia voices. DEEP consists of around 80 groups of people with dementia – groups that want to change things. Sea DEEP is the local group who meet up once per month socially to connect and talk to one and other about life and what is happening in their local community.
Chris also attends Eastbourne Dementia Action Alliance (DAA). The Alliance engage with local people living with dementia and by listening to their voices, healthcare professionals, community groups and a wide range of business and organisations, we will gain a better understanding of each other’s needs and, by working together, will develop a strategy to make Eastbourne and the surrounding areas an inclusive place to live for people living with dementia to enable them to remain independent and feel supported by their community.
Trust dementia leads, Nicola Burke and Claire Shimmons, regularly consult with Chris, and the other members of Sea Deep and the local DAAs, “to better inform the services that the trust provides. Through feedback and consultation, the aim is to provide the best possible care for people living with dementia when they need to access our services. Chris has also been kind enough to share her experiences of us and top tips for staff in a video created for Dementia Action Week earlier this year. Chris is incredibly generous with her time and is always happy to help whenever she can. We are very grateful for her expertise and support and couldn’t be happier that she has received the recognition she deserves for all of her hard work.”
We asked Chris about receiving the honour and the advocacy work that she does within the dementia community – Chris said: “I received a letter six weeks before the announcement. I had to accept the nomination, but I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone. First of all, I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was a wind up! I had to keep telling myself it’s real. I feel proud, humbled and honoured.
“It is so important to me to be able to help others with dementia, I have a burning desire to make a difference. I want to raise awareness where there is ignorance, because not everybody can tell their story. When I’ve told my story other people have come up to me and said that I’m also telling their story, but they can’t necessarily put it into words. We all need somebody in our corner to fight our case.
“I got more involved in the advocacy side of things after completing a course with the Alzheimer’s Society. I was then invited to tell my dementia story, first to other people with dementia and then to professionals. I have spoken all over the place, nationally and internationally. I spoke at the Alzheimer’s Society conference – Vicky McClure was there. I volunteered at St Wilfrid’s Hospice and was invited to talk at an Alzheimer’s Society conference abroad about a person living with dementia doing voluntary work at a hospice. I also do work with Time for Dementia – students come to us to learn what it’s like for people living with dementia. The more I’ve done, the more people ask me to do.
“What you see is what you get with me. It doesn’t matter that I have a B.E.M now, I’m still just Chris and I’m living with dementia.”
A huge congratulations to Chris on the honour and thank you for all the work you do with the trust.