Belong Villages Hit The High Note In The NAPA Sing-A-Song Challenge
Residents, apartment tenants, Experience Day customers and staff members from Belong, the specialist care provider in the North West, joined forces to take part in the National Activity Providers Association (NAPA) sing-a-song challenge, to celebrate the power of music.
The event took place in the Venue of each village in Atherton, Crewe, Macclesfield, Wigan and Warrington. Participants performed the NAPA challenge song of the year, ‘Sing’ by The Carpenters, and shared their experiences with one another by linking up live via Skype, bringing together people from all five Belong villages across the North West.
Residents and apartment tenants had been preparing for the NAPA challenge in singing sessions organised by experience co-ordinators at each village and also practised three further iconic songs; ‘I’d like to teach the world to sing’, ‘Thank you for the music’ and ‘All you need is love’.
The familiar music also acted as a form of reminiscence therapy that has been shown to be particularly beneficial for people living with dementia, stimulating cognitive ability as well as being therapeutic.
Tracy Paine, Operations Director of Belong, said: “The NAPA challenge was a really lovely event. It was wonderful to hear residents, apartment tenants, staff members and guests from all five of our villages singing the same song, in unison, over Skype.
“Music is such a powerful reminiscence tool and it was wonderful to see so many people enjoying themselves. I think I can say on behalf of all villages that a lot of fun was had by all.”