A Working Lunch with Good Company

At Good Company we often say that the most powerful thing we can offer is not a service or a checklist, but a conversation. That is the heart of our Lunch & Learn sessions.

These are short and informal gatherings where employees bring their lunch and give themselves space to think about dementia, ageing and caring. Lucy, our CEO and co-founder, leads the sessions. She speaks as both a daughter who walked alongside her mum Hazel through Parkinson’s Disease Dementia, and as someone who has listened to hundreds of families through Good Company.

Every session is a mix of lived experience, real stories and practical insight. People value the simplicity of the advice. The ABCs that Lucy shares, avoid confrontation, be practical, comfort is king, come straight from everyday reality. They are the kind of small things that can make a huge difference when life becomes harder.

We have run Lunch & Learns with organisations including Aspen, Wedlake Bell and Buzzacott. At Aspen the atrium filled quickly with staff, many of them quietly caring for parents or relatives. At Wedlake Bell we explored how dementia can affect clients as well as colleagues, and what good practice looks like in professional settings. At Buzzacott we saw how even a busy accountancy firm could pause for reflection and discover just how many people had caring stories to share.

A captive audience at Aspen Insurance for a Lunch & Learn session with Lucy Buck

What makes these sessions unique is that they are not just about information. They are also about connection. Lucy draws on the voices of our members, carers and volunteers, as well as the guidance of our Lived Experience Advisory Panel. That means each Lunch & Learn is shaped by real life, not theory. And just like our clubs and circles, no two sessions are ever the same because no two people are the same.

For workplaces the value is clear. Employees leave feeling more confident, more reassured and less alone. Employers tell us these conversations open up hidden parts of people’s lives and help to create a culture of care and understanding.

If you think your workplace could benefit from a Lunch & Learn, we would love to hear from you. It is a simple way to start a conversation and to show that you care about the people behind the job titles.

📧 Email lucy@thegoodcompanypeople.org

Three reasons to host a Lunch & Learn

It gives staff confidence People leave with clear, practical ideas for how to handle everyday challenges around dementia and caring.

It makes hidden stories visible Colleagues often realise they are not the only ones caring, which reduces isolation and builds understanding.

It shows your workplace cares By opening up space for these conversations, employers create a culture where staff feel supported as people, not just as job titles.