Wellingborough dementia choir available county-wide with free weekly online singing sessions

Members of a Wellingborough choir set up to help those living with dementia will be back on song as their socially-distanced sing-a-along sessions resume this week.

Dementia Sings Out (DSO) was launched in 2019 by Ruth Bowe in response to watching the BBC One programme Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure.

The choir, a registered charity, has gone from strength to strength attracting funding from individual supporters and from the National Lottery Community Fund to secure its future.

A DSO spokeman said: "Obviously we are still online and as a free resource we continue to be keen to offer this resource to as many as people as possible, in the county, who live with dementia.

"As the online sessions via Zoom continue to be the new ‘normal’ we are doing everything we can to keep it a fabulous experience for everyone."

Along with uplifting and inspirational favourites, including My Boy Lollipop, Higher and Higher, This Little Light of Mine, Que Sera, Sera, and You are my Sunshine, new songs have been promised.

Starting from tomorrow at 10.30am (Thursday, September 10) singers will be able to use print-at-home lyric sheets to help them join in the weekly 30-minute sessions at home.

Dementia Sings Out choir is led by musical director Gareth Fuller and supported by the Dementia Friends of the Wellingborough Community Gospel Choir.

DSO spokeman added: "Dementia touches so many people and for those living with the condition, continued interaction and stimulation with others can have a positive effect on well-being.

"Music has the capacity to improve a person’s mood and general wellbeing and most of all bring joy. Similarly, the carers of those living with dementia benefit from music and the social interaction with others in a similar position.

"There will be some wonderful new songs, plus song word files are available for all the choir members living with dementia.

"If you know of anyone living with dementia, who would like to join in, our weekly sessions are free and we would love to see you. It's the more the merrier."

To download the lyrics go to the Dementia Sings Out website

Anyone living with dementia wanting to join in the free weekly sessions should email [email protected].

People unable to join the session can join in the previous week's here https://dementiasingsout.org/live/.

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