Wickford Care Home Secures Funding for One Voice Choir
The Grange care home in Wickford have secured a grant from the “Power of Music Fund”, a collaboration between The National Academy of Social Prescribing and The Utley Foundation, to support the home’s One Voice Choir.
Welcoming 15-20 resident’s on a week-by-week basis, the One Voice Choir provides positive and emotional benefits for residents at the care home, provoking fond memories, creating a strong sense of community and adding an exciting atmosphere within the home.
With the additional funding, the choir can expand its horizons, with new shows, new venues and new ways to entertain other care homes and organisations through the power of music!
The new Power of Music Fund aims to develop and deliver support to programmes that use music to enhance the health and wellbeing of communities. The Grange care home has been awarded one of 100 grants earmarked for ‘Dementia Choirs’ across the UK to help provide meaningful support and bring joy to people affected by dementia.
The home applied for the grant at the end of January and were delighted when the acceptance email arrived to home’s Choir Director and Wellbeing Lead, Catherine Sahadevan.
Commenting on the news, Wellbeing Lead, Catherine, said: “I was in absolute shock and excitement when I received the news that our choir has secured one out of 100 spots across the country to receive a grant to support our wonderful residents. The choir is such an important weekly activity in the resident’s social calendar; it brings so many emotional and positive benefits, and a wealth of exciting opportunities in the community.
The choir began five years ago and has grown in strength each year; there are many powerful memories associated with music and it has stood for so long because of the passion and dedication from myself, and everyone in the home, to empower our residents with the choir.
The families will be so pleased to hear of the multitude of opportunities this extra funding will bring, and will allow us to keep continuing to spread joy and community spirit; they really are an inspiration to all of us.”
Peyton Miles, Communications and Relationships Manager at The Utley Foundation, said: “We are thrilled to be supporting 100 choirs and singing groups through the Power of Music fund alongside the National Academy of Social Prescribing. This small-grant fund is intended to support grassroots organisations and groups to create moments of musical joy for those living with dementia and their carers”.
