Shirley Evans MEd, PhD

As Interim Director of the Association for Dementia Studies, Shirley is responsible for maintaining continuity of leadership in ADS and driving momentum in terms of Research and Knowledge Exchange.

Dr Shirley Evans is the leading expert in the UK on Meeting Centres for people affected by dementia. Shirley has a specific interest and expertise in community-based interventions for people affected by dementia. She approaches this on a local, regional, national and international basis and as a researcher, implementer and leader, strategist and policy shaper.

The focus of Shirley’s work at the Association for Dementia Studies is as Programme Manager for the Meeting Centres UK project funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. A key goal of the original project was to support organisations and individuals to set up 15 to 20 Meeting Centres for people with dementia and their families in their local community. Prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were 13 Meeting Centres and there are currently 46 funded with over 50 predicted by mid-2022 and 60 by the end of 2022.

She plays a key role in driving forward a number of initiatives in Herefordshire and Worcestershire to support people affected by dementia including Leominster Meeting Centre (Trustee Finance and Projects) for people affected by dementia; Dementia Matters Here (fordshire) (Chair); Herefordshire Dementia Action Alliance (Chair). She is Deputy Chair of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Dementia Programme Board. Shirley has acquired over £600,000 in grant funding for the Herefordshire charities.

Shirley has a strong teaching and consultancy background in information and communications technology and a wealth of expertise in inclusive practice in education, technology and sport.