Grants to support dementia inclusive singing

Mon, 14th Dec 2020

We’re delighted to announce the first-round recipients of our Dementia Inclusive Singing Network small grants.   

Nine organisations, singing groups and choirs across Scotland were awarded grants of between £200 and £1000 to help ensure people affected by dementia can continue to access singing opportunities during Covid-19 restrictions.   

All groups are using the funds to improve opportunities for connecting digitally or helping people sing at home.  

Acorn Shed Music, Bishopbriggs   

Acorn Shed Music will purchase equipment to support people living with dementia and their carers to take part in online, interactive stories and song activities.  Two tablets will be lent out on regular rotation, as well as providing practical support to make it as easy as possible for them to access the activities. The team hope it will lead to full participation in singing and songwriting, reducing isolation and stress, increasing confidence and creating a sense of belonging.  .  

Come and Sing, Lenzie  

Since March, dementia friendly singing group Come and Sing, Lenzie, has stayed connected with members through phone calls, ‘goodie bags’, CD deliveries and a calendar that suggests a Song of the Day. This funding will ensure every member receives a film recording of their outreach group ‘The Happy Songsters’ during a visit to a local Care home, filmed by a member’s granddaughter as part of a college project focusing on dementia.  

Forget Me Notes

Engagement with Forget Me Notes online Zoom Choir proved more successful than anticipated and is now offered twice weekly. The grant will go towards upgrading equipment to minimize technical challenges.  There has also been an increase in demand for pre-recorded videos that people can sing along to in their own time, particularly among those in care homes. Forget Me Notes will invest in better recording equipment to improve film quality.   

Harmonise Community Choir  

Harmonise is an a cappella community singing group based in Edinburgh. Since March, sessions have been delivered online and choir feedback shows that people are finding it more challenging to learn harmony parts when singing by themselves at home. This grant will enable recording of 10 of the choir’s best-loved songs, including piano and all four voice types of the choir, improving accessibility.  

Kirrie Connections, Angus   

Kirrie Connections is a dementia ‘meeting centre’ – a Dutch model of social dementia support that has a strong emphasis on creative activities and the arts. This grant will enable the continued delivery, online, of Kirrie’s Singin’, a dementia inclusive choir led by local musician and folk singer, Christine Kydd.  

Let’s Sing, Musselburgh  

Let’s Sing, a dementia-focused community choir in Musselburgh, is planning a wee Christmas surprise for its group members. We don’t want to give too much away right now. Watch this space…   

Live Music Now Scotland   

Live Music Now have provided live and recorded music performances digitally throughout the pandemic. Their Together At Home series was creating specifically for older people in care homes, day centres and those living in social isolation. This grant will enable the team to bring musicians together to create pre-recorded Christmas concerts that encourage participatory singing. All videos will be captioned and freely available on Youtube.   

South Queensferry Singing Group for Dementia and Carers   

The group have moved the regular singing group online and as well as maintaining connection with existing members have attracted new people who were previously unable to attend in person. This grant will help purchase equipment to improve the experience for participants and ensure the sessions can continue to be delivered with the input of volunteer musicians.   

The Newburgh Community Wellbeing Choir   

This weekly choir has been unable to meet since restrictions were put in place. This grant will enable the creation of a DVD made by local, professional film makers who will record the choirmaster and musician playing songs that members are familiar with and can sing along to.