Age Connects Torfaen’s music group Love to Sing choir has been awarded £2000 in Power of Music funding to support its work with people living with dementia. The group, based at the Widdershins Centre, Sebastopol, will use the money to continue to run their weekly dementia choir.
Love to Sing has been running since 2018 and supports over 50 people a week. The group’s successful application to the Power of Music Fund will enable them to develop the choir and encourage more people to join.
Emma Wootten, Development Manager Age Connects Torfaen said: “We’re delighted that The Power of Music Fund has supported our work in this way. Now, thanks to funding more people affected by dementia will come together to sing a variety of songs they know and love, in a fun and friendly environment “.
The Power of Music Fund is being managed by the National Academy for Social Prescribing and has been kickstarted by a £1 million donation from The Utley Foundation. It is also supported by Arts Council England, Music for All, and other donors, including members of the public.
The fund builds on the recommendations of the 2022 Power of Music Report, which outlined the benefits that music can have for health and wellbeing – including for people living with dementia. Through the fund, the National Academy for Social Prescribing aims to support grassroots groups providing support through music, and also improve links with healthcare providers, so that people with dementia and their carers can be ‘socially prescribed’ music projects.
Charlotte Osborn-Forde, CEO at the National Academy for Social Prescribing, said: “We’re thrilled to have awarded Age Connects Torfaen this funding as part of the Power of Music’s mission to deliver funds to grassroots projects as part of social prescribing, especially in parts of the country where the need is greatest.
“The money can cover basic costs such as room hire and travel, but more importantly, it will provide support for people living with dementia and their families, improving their physical and mental wellbeing and creating moments of joy and connection through music.
The Utley Foundation has been working to make music an integral part of dementia care for ten years through its Music for Dementia campaign.
Sarah Metcalfe, Managing Director at The Utley Foundation, said: “Research shows music can help people living with dementia and their families. More must be done to make it an integral part of dementia care. The Utley Foundation was delighted to kickstart NASP’s Power of Music Fund with £1million and is thrilled that the Love to Sing choir is one of the first organisations to benefit so that local people can benefit.”
