A new dementia-friendly choir is being launched in South Somerset to support people living with memory loss.
The Octagon Memory Choir is being set up in Yeovil by the Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue as part of their Arts Engagement and Outreach programme.
The project, funded by Arts Council England, Somerset Council, the Norman Family Charitable Trust, and Music for All, will begin at the end of the month.
Katherine Beverley, arts engagement and outreach manager for the Octagon Theatre and Westlands Entertainment Venue, said: "The unanimous support we have already received for the Octagon Memory Choir is testament of the desire and will from the community for projects which support people’s health and wellbeing, and in this instance, people living with dementia or memory challenges.
"Somerset has a growing population, with many people living longer, we want to ensure the residents we seek to serve live healthier happier lives, hence why developing opportunities to contribute to building positive mental & physical health in Somerset is an important part of our work and focus.
"We are looking forward to this next chapter as we introduce our Octagon Memory Choir, bringing people together through music and creating a network of support for people living with dementia, their families and carers."
Delivered in partnership with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and the Alzheimer’s Society, the choir will offer weekly singing sessions at Westlands, led by trained music specialists and supported by live musicians.
Sessions, starting on January 30, will be held every Friday from 11am to 12.30pm and are open to people with dementia or memory challenges, along with their families and carers.
Each session will begin with time to chat over tea, coffee and biscuits, followed by an hour of group singing.
Although there is a suggested donation, thanks to the funding, the choir is subsidised to keep costs low, and carers are welcome to join free of charge.
More information is available at westlandsyeovil.co.uk/whats-on/all-shows/octagon-memory-choir.
The choir has been designed to be fully inclusive and aims to deliver a positive, uplifting experience that can help reduce isolation and provide meaningful respite for carers.
Singing and music have been shown to improve emotional, cognitive, and social wellbeing, while also fostering a sense of connection and community.
Caroline Barnes, creative health coordinator at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: "To be able to offer tangible practical support in the form of a choir for people living with dementia will be so positive & impactful for people in Somerset."
The project is one of several supported by the Octagon Theatre’s status as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, which includes £760,000 of investment for arts and culture in Somerset between 2023 and 2026.
This funding supports education, community, and health and wellbeing activities aimed at improving inclusion and removing barriers to participation in the arts.
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