Northamptonshire podcast wins share of £50,000 to share heartfelt experiences with dementia

"We felt isolated and uncertain about what was to come, and it was down to me to find the right kind of help."
Penny Bell and her mum have shared their close relationship through the Discovering Dementia podcast.Penny Bell and her mum have shared their close relationship through the Discovering Dementia podcast.
Penny Bell and her mum have shared their close relationship through the Discovering Dementia podcast.

A podcaster from Hollowell has been awarded a share of £50,000 to continue sharing her experiences of supporting her mother's dementia diagnosis.

Penny Bell, from Hollowell, started the podcast Discovering Dementia after her mother’s diagnosis of mixed dementia in 2016.

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After the diagnosis, Penny began to research what help was available. It seemed to her every county offered different things - which was a challenge, as Penny is based in Northamptonshire and her mother is in Oxfordshire.

She was sure they were not the only ones trying to navigate a new diagnosis and searching for resources.

So, using her background in radio, she began to record things that she felt might be useful to others too, including conversations with her mum.

It led to Discovering Dementia’s first series, available on iTunes and other podcast platforms, which included interviews with staff at Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust.

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Penny said: “Following my mum’s diagnosis, although medication was prescribed by her GP, there was no follow up appointment made and not much information given about the road ahead. We felt isolated and uncertain about what was to come, and it was down to me to find the right kind of help.

“What has made it easier is that my mum is all for breaking down barriers and trying to reduce the stigma that can be associated with a dementia diagnosis. She is happy to talk about how it feels from her side too.”

The relationship between the two makes for a candid conversation to listen to - and now, Penny hopes to continue to broaden the scope of the podcast.

Penny said: “I have met so many wonderful people through making the podcast and they have all been so encouraging. I want to connect with as many as possible and find new stories to tell.”

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She is now one of only 11 successful recipients of the Pulse Award, receiving a share of £50,000 in a brand new initiative from the British Podcast Awards and Wellcome Trust.

She has used the fund to create a second series, which includes two special episodes funded by the award.

One of the special episodes looks at the importance of socialising for a person living with dementia. Recorded prior to the UK coronavirus lockdown, the story took a different turn when for many, including Penny’s mum, socialising came to a rapid stop.