Who we are
Local people, helping local families.
Halesworth Dementia Carers' Fund is an independent charity supporting people living with dementia and the family and friends who care for them, across Halesworth and the surrounding villages.
Independent and local
Every penny supports our work
We are a completely independent registered charity, run for the benefit of families in the Halesworth area. We are not part of Dementia UK or the Alzheimer's Society, and we are separate from the Pear Tree Centre and Halesworth Volunteer Centre, though we work very closely with them and with local care agencies.
We have no paid administrators. The charity is run by a board of volunteer trustees, none of whom receives any payment, so every penny we raise is used to support our charitable work.
We are a foundation charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, number 1170477.
Registered Charity No. 1170477
- 19,200hours of respite care in our first ten years
- 135+people with dementia and their families helped
- 2012the year we started, from a very small beginning
Our story
From a few families to a whole community
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2012
A small beginning
Tessa Harding and Nikki Sawkins set up the Carers' Fund, hoping to help a few local families. Tessa had cared for her stepmother, who had vascular dementia, and knew how hard it was to find someone knowledgeable to talk to.
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2014
Respite care begins
Our free respite care service started in April 2014, giving family carers regular time off.
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2022
Community Project of the Year
We won the Tamsyn Imison Award for Halesworth Community Project of the Year. Read more about community project of the year
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10 years
A decade of respite care
In its first decade, our respite service gave a staggering 19,200 hours of care to over 135 people with dementia and their families.
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2026
Recognised for our work
Highly Commended at both the UK Dementia Awards and the Norfolk & Suffolk Health and Care Awards. Read more about recognised for our work
Tessa Harding MBE, our co-founder and Lifetime President, died in December 2024. Read about Tessa's life and work.
Awards
Proud to be recognised
- Highly Commended, UK Dementia Awards 2026
- Highly Commended, Norfolk & Suffolk Health and Care Awards 2026
- Finalist, Dementia Excellence, Suffolk Care Awards 2026
- Tamsyn Imison Award, Halesworth Community Project of the Year 2022
The elephant that evolved
Why an elephant?
Our light blue elephant was first designed by pupils at Bungay High School. Over the years it gained the charity's name, and later a darker blue with bright white toes, so it stands out on everything from leaflets to merchandise.
With thanks to our funders
Everything we do is paid for by grants, fundraising and donations. We are grateful for the support of:
- Heveningham Hall Country Fair Trust
- Suffolk Community Foundation
- East Suffolk Council
- Halesworth Town Council
- and many more local people and businesses
Want to know more?
We're always happy to talk about what we do, or how you could help.