15 years on: A journey inspired by love, compassion, and people’s voices
- Written by: Tommy Whitelaw — National Lead for Person Centred Voices
- Published: 10th November 2026
Tommy Whitelaw reflects on a 15-year journey from caring for his mum to championing the voices of people affected by dementia.
Fifteen years ago, on 10 November 2011, I delivered my Letters to the Scottish Parliament – a collection of letters, life and love stories from people across Scotland.
At that time, I was simply a son caring for my mum, Joan, who was living with dementia. I could never have imagined that a journey born from love, frustration, hope, and determination would lead me to where I am today.
The journey began with the Tommy on Tour campaign late 2010, which saw me walk through towns and cities across Scotland mid-2011 collecting letters, stories and experiences from people affected by dementia. It was about ensuring that their voices were heard and that their experiences mattered.
Over the past 15 years, my journey from son and campaigner to National Lead for Person Centred Voices, a role created to harness and build upon this work at the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland, has taken me into communities, hospitals, universities, colleges, care homes, boardrooms and conferences across the world.
It has been a privilege to deliver more than 2,800 talks and workshops, reaching over 300,000 people across the UK, Europe, and North America.
Along the way, I have learned that the most powerful change often begins when we take the time to listen.
My mum taught me more than any book, qualification or job title ever could. She showed me the importance of seeing the person beyond a diagnosis, of compassion in action, and of asking one simple question:
“What matters to you?”
Today, as I reflect on these 15 years, I do so with immense gratitude.
Gratitude to my mum.
Gratitude to everyone who shared their stories.
Gratitude to the countless unpaid carers and people who work every day to make health and social care, and our communities, more human, kinder and more connected.
The journey that began with a promise to my mum, and has grown through the wisdom, courage and kindness of the people I have met along the way, continues.
If the last 15 years have taught me anything, it is this:
Every voice matters.
Every story matters.
Every person matters.
You can watch a film from my walk across Scotland, featuring families reading excerpts from the letters, HERE.
End of page.
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