Wellingborough dementia choir hits a new high note as funding secures future

Dementia Sings Out was founded as an off-shoot of Wellingborough Community Gospel Choir inspired by BBC One television programme - Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure.

Initially funded by private donations, the choir can plan for the future thanks to a donation from a charity golf day held by Anstee & Co.

Ruth Bowe, choir founder said: "We are so grateful to our supporters. Anstee & Co have been with us since the start of the journey in July and this incredible donation secures the future for our choir well into 2020.

"This is such wonderful news for those who gain so much from attending and singing each week - those living with dementia, their carers, volunteers from Wellingborough Community Gospel Choir.

"Everyone is so grateful to have the funding to be able to continue these sessions where so many magical moments take place and there is such joy from singing together."

Caroline Anstee founder of Anstee & Co presented a cheque the proceeds from their annual charity golf day in October at Wellingborough Golf Club.

The company boosted the £3,931.14 amount raised by the 14 competing teams topping it up to £5,053.

Caroline Anstee, managing director of Anstee & Co, said: "Ruth is a close friend of mine. We had both seen the BBC programme about a dementia choir and were talking about it and saying wouldn’t it be great to set up something locally.

"I was in the process of deciding which charity to support for Anstee & Co's fifth annual golf day and when Ruth said she wanted to start the choir - it was an obvious choice.

"I knew it would be a success if they could have some funding. I was very privileged to visit the choir yesterday.

"To see the smiles of enjoyment and to hear some wonderful stories made it all worthwhile.

"I am very pleased we supported the charity and the success is down to the hard work of the volunteers and the carers."

Last week, Dementia Sings Out was granted charitable status.

Ruth added: "We have very recently been granted charitable status and this, along with future financial support is vital to us being able to continue, so we are unbelievably grateful to our sponsors past, current and future for enabling us to provide these special sessions."

Dementia Sings Out meet every Thursday from 10.30am to 12 noon at the Everyday Champions Church in Havelock Street, Wellingborough, NN8 4QA.

The free to join choir is for people living with dementia and partners or carers.

For further details for anyone interested in attending, these can be found via www.dementiasingsout.org, our Facebook page or emailing [email protected]