Weekly singalongs prove a real hit with residents!
Wednesday afternoon singalongs are a real highlight of the week for residents at Hartsholme House.
Residents really look forward to the weekly sessions and love belting out their favourite songs, even if that means singing carols in the summer!
The singalongs, which have been running for several years, are also a great way to bring residents together, including those that don’t usually engage in home activities.
The sessions are organised by volunteer Tony who plays a keyboard which the home fund-raised for. He is joined by his friend Ian, who plays saxophone, and volunteer Christine, whose father-in-law was a resident in the home, who leads the singing.
Known as ‘Tony’s Band’, the team of volunteers are always happy to take special requests from residents with no song off limits!
Home Manager Cheryl Gilderdale said the weekly singalongs were a real highlight of the week.
“They’re something that residents really look forward to, and what’s nice is that residents who don’t always join in with other activities make a special effort to come down for the singalong, so it really does bring residents together.
“Residents help choose the songs, so we know that they’re singing the songs they want to sing, and we sing songs from all seasons all year round. Even if its summer we’ll be singing Christmas carols because the residents enjoy singing them and are familiar with them.
“I think it’s fair to say that many of us have not got voices of angels, but we do all love a good singalong, and we do really belt out the songs because we know them all so well.”
Karen Dannatt, Activities Co-ordinator at Hartsholme House, said it was lovely to see the enjoyment that residents got from their weekly singalong.
She said: “Even those who don’t join in the singing get involved somehow - you’ll see them tapping their toes or nodding their heads with a big smile on their faces. We have one gentlemen who doesn’t like singing but he enjoys dancing so we always have a little jig together.
“It’s a really happy way of spending an hour every Wednesday afternoon!”