Dementia
By continuing to work together and support innovative research, we will diagnose dementia earlier, discover life-changing treatments, and ultimately find a cure.
We’ve made giant leaps, but we’re not stopping here
Dementia is one of the greatest medical challenges of our generation. It touches countless lives, stealing memories, independence, and connection – devastating families and communities in its wake. But there is hope. After decades of tireless research, we are closer than ever to transforming the future of dementia – and we’re proud to be part of that journey.
Since 2011, we’ve raised over £18 million to help tackle the disease, working in partnership with Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK), University College London (UCL), and The National Brain Appeal. Together, we’ve funded pioneering research, accelerated breakthroughs, and made our colleagues Dementia Friends, building a more compassionate and informed workforce.
Who we work with
Our Dementia partnerships
Since 2011, Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation has raised over £5 million for Alzheimer’s Research UK, funding groundbreaking studies and national awareness campaigns. Together, we’ve supported vital research, including Dementia with Lewy Bodies and stem cell technology, and helped share over 37,000 brain tissue samples.
We’ve also driven public engagement through campaigns like Think Brain Health, which reached households nationwide with practical ways to reduce dementia risk, and #ShareTheOrange, a powerful initiative challenging misconceptions about the disease. In 2020, we proudly backed Frank Rothwell’s record-breaking solo Atlantic row, helping raise £1 million for dementia research.
In 2023, Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation donated over £1 million to The National Brain Appeal to help establish the UK’s first Rare Dementia Support Centre in London – a pioneering space offering specialist care, education, and research for those affected by rare dementias.
To mark IFCF’s 50th anniversary, Chairman Richard Walker climbed Mount Everest in memory of his mum, Lady Walker, inspiring colleagues nationwide to fundraise for this vital cause. Set to open in 2026, the centre will welcome thousands of visitors in its first year, transforming support for families facing the most complex forms of dementia.
In 2016, Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation pledged £10 million to help establish the UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London – a world-leading centre set to open fully in 2027. Through our leadership of the UCL Dementia Research Retail Coalition, high street partners raised an additional £10 million, doubling the impact.
This groundbreaking facility will unite over 500 international researchers, accelerating progress in understanding, diagnosing, and treating dementia. Alongside cutting-edge science, we’re proud to support the creation of the Lady Walker Garden—a peaceful space for reflection, connection, and renewal.
Between 2017 and 2018, Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation partnered with Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Scotland, donating £1.5 million to support dementia care and awareness.
We sponsored nationwide Memory Walks and became the first retailer to train all 28,000 colleagues as Dementia Friends – creating a more inclusive, compassionate shopping experience for customers living with dementia.
