3rd December 2021

Alzheimer’s Support trustees have confirmed the appointment of Sarah Marriott as Chief Executive Officer.

Sarah, former Head of Community Services at Alzheimer’s Support, has been leading the charity as interim CEO since Babs Harris left to lead REME Charity in August.

Chair of Trustees Janet Dore said: “Confirming Sarah as CEO was a unanimous decision of the Board. She has been living a six-month job interview and has dealt admirably with every challenge. We have no doubt she will be an excellent leader for the charity moving forward and are delighted to be able to confirm her appointment as CEO.”

Sarah said: "I'm incredibly proud to be leading this amazing charity. It's been a challenging year and a half for the Alzheimer's Support and I'm looking forward to leading us into a period of consolidation and focusing very much on meeting the needs of staff as we continue to provide our high quality services."

Sarah knows the organisation well having worked as a Support Worker, Care Coordinator, Dementia Adviser Manager and Head of Community Services. She is currently working towards an BMA in Senior Leadership with the Open University. 

Third CEO in 30 years

Sarah is only the third chief executive in the Wiltshire charity’s 32-year history. Founder Anna Littlechild led the charity until retiring in 2015, when Babs Harris was appointed. Under Babs’ leadership Alzheimer’s Support expanded to cover the whole of Wiltshire, opened the Old Silk Works day club and dementia centre in Warminster, launched the charity’s regional conference and online dementia Roadmap.

New CEO Sarah paid tribute to Babs saying: “Her strong leadership over the six years she was with us has enabled us to expand and develop to be a major service provider in Wiltshire. We thank her for her hard work, her foresight, and wish her all the best in her new venture.

"I will endeavor to follow her, and lead Alzheimer’s Support into a period of consolidation. I begin by focusing on staff, who are at the centre of all we do, and looking to reassure them that as we emerge from Covid, we are as committed and dedicated as ever to providing the excellent services we are recognised for.”

Kate Sharpe to lead dementia activity groups in Wiltshire

Acting Head of Community Services Kate Sharpe has also been confirmed in post.

Kate is now responsible for the charity’s Creating Connections programme of activities in the community, which includes Music for the Mind, Movement for the Mind, art groups, Muddy Boots outdoors groups, memory cafes, carers support groups and carer training.

She said: “I am so delighted to be the Head of Community Services.  I have seen and been part of the expansion of our activity groups for the last six years and I am so proud of what the team has achieved.”

30 years of Alzheimer's Support