Our work is embedded in research undertaken by the Sidney de Haan Centre for Arts and Health based at Canterbury Christ Church University. We have recently completed the first-ever Randomised Control Trial of group participatory singing for older people. This research, supported by the NHS and evaluated by NICE (The National Institute of Clinical Excellence) has clearly shown the clinical health benefits and this evidence is essential for our work. However, whilst almost everyone accepts the anecdotal and emotional arguments, there are still a cynical few who need the ‘hard’ evidence. The challenge we have now set ourselves is to prove it…and we will!
Our principal aim is to Bring participatory singing activities to older people and promoting all the clinical health and well being benefits that are now being proven to exist, especially for those living with a dementia.
Our Activities include:-
1. The Silver Song Club, which is a free-access-to-all monthly session of group participatory singing.
2. Developing and promoting the use of the Silver Song Music Box which is an easy to use and cost-effective system to effect singing on demand – after all, a song a day keeps the doctor away!
We have received a special commendation from the Royal Society for Public Health and are UK nominated project for the EU health PRO elderly project. We are part of the Big Lottery Fund chances4change programme and hold the V award for volunteering excellence.
