Members of a Romsey dementia group are getting ready for its programme of events for 2023.

Greenbuttercup CIC announced they will be adding a further activity group to their usual twice-monthly programme for people living with dementia and their carers/relatives.

It has been well-documented that music and singing stimulates people living with dementia. Like everything else, dementia-friendly choirs and music groups stopped in March 2020, and although some continued or re-started via zoom, there are still few face-to-face groups currently in the Romsey area.  

A Greenbuttercup CIC spokesman said: “When asked what activity they would like to do, members of Greenbuttercup CIC’s existing activity groups always say ‘sing’. So, with the winter months upon us, and more people wanting to access our services than ever before, it seemed the ideal time for us to trial a monthly ‘singing’ group and bring the joy of music to those living in the continual ‘lockdown’ that is dementia.

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“A local singer/guitarist called Traci Kennedy has been booked on the fourth Friday of the month from January to April 2023. This will not be a ‘choir’, rather an informal social gathering with the opportunity to sing along to well-known songs – mainly from the 60s and 70s. We will keep the same time, place, and cost as for the other groups.”

Hampshire Chronicle:

The programme for January is: January 6 - Arts & Crafts ‘Painting on Stones’, January 20 - Reminiscence Activity Group ‘Victorian Magic Lantern Show’, and January 27 - singing – with Traci Kennedy.

All sessions are held from 10.30am - 12.30pm in the Green Room, Plaza Theatre, Romsey. A £3 charge per person covers all activities and tea/coffee. For more details, contact Pamela on 01794 501605 or Pamela@shadow26.plus.com.