NINE years after the inaugural Singing for the Brain event in Barnard Castle, members celebrated its milestone 150th session with a cake.
The sessions, initially funded by the Alzheimer’s Society, were first held in the Methodist Church Hall, in Barnard Castle, in 2013 on a Friday morning, led by Mike Bettison.
For those living with dementia, their carers and family members the sessions were an instant hit and 150 sessions later Mr Bettison is still leading the singing sessions.
Since the Alzheimer’s Society backed out of funding the Singing for the Brain and Games for the Brain sessions in Barnard Castle, they have been run under the umbrella of the Making Memories group and continue to be popular with between 20 to 25 people attending on most occasions.
Volunteer Sally Davies said: “We at Making Memories are very grateful to Mike continuing these sessions for us as it is such a valued and recognised benefit for all who attend.”
Party hats were donned and cakes dished out for the celebratory session on Monday, October 17.
Later in the week, there was further cause for celebration when the dementia support group hosted its first pop-up taster session at Whorlton Village Hall.
The free event enabled visitors to take part in a variety of activities, including armchair quoits and seated basketball and aimed to introduce the benefits of the group to a new and wider audience in the village setting.
Ms Davies said: “We are trying to get into communities instead of expecting people to come to us.
“As well as people living with dementia, there were family members who were interested in what the sessions entailed with a view to introducing their loved ones to all that we do at Making Memories.”
She added: “A lot of fun was had by everyone and that is the main ethos of the group, but the serious message behind the fun is to make sure everyone feels safe in a non-judgemental environment.
In the new year, the Making Memories group is also putting together a dance movement workshop with renowned dance psychotherapist Richard Coaten.
Ms Davies said: “He is a leading authority in the country on the benefit of movement and dance in reducing the risk of falls in the elderly.”
Fellow volunteer Nicky Tullock said: “It is something that we have wanted to do for a long time, an idea we were working on before lockdown. It’s thanks to Mike [Bettison] who had the contact and the grant will help us to pay for that.”
The Making Memories group meets weekly on a Monday afternoon between 2pm and 3.30pm at The Hub, with singing sessions included every fortnight.
The next Singing for the Brain session will be on Monday, November 7.
