Find out what Hannah Curtis, Campaigns Officer at Dementia UK learned from her experience as a rider on SMK’s Campaign Carousel training programme.
I’ve wanted to work in campaigning ever since I studied at university. Learning about health inequalities made me realise that many of the challenges people face aren’t just down to chance, but are shaped by the systems around us.
Today, I’m a Campaigns Officer at Dementia UK, where I campaign for better dementia care and support. A big part of my role is making sure people affected by dementia can share their stories directly with those in power, so their voices are heard in the rooms where decisions are made.
I’d heard great things about the Campaigns Carousel from colleagues across the sector, so I jumped at the chance to take part. I wanted to learn from experienced campaigners, build new skills and meet people working on different causes.
I loved having the freedom to choose optional modules, which meant I could tailor the course to my role and interests. I especially enjoyed the ‘Communicating for Change’ and ‘Social Media to Win Campaigns’ workshops because they were so interactive. We had the chance to put ideas into practice, get feedback straight away, and explore ways to strengthen the campaigns we’re already working on.
One of my biggest takeaways from these workshops was that hope is a powerful campaigning tool. It’s easy to focus on the challenges people face, but the workshops showed me that people are more likely to take action when they can see how change is possible. That’s something I’ve taken back into my everyday work.
It’s also reminded me how important it is to connect with other campaigners. Meeting people from different organisations and learning from their experiences has been one of the most valuable parts of the Carousel. I’m excited to keep learning, listening and working alongside people affected by dementia to help make sure no one faces it alone.