Residents of Chelford and the surrounding areas are really enjoying the Musical Moments sessions run Chelford Together as part of their Caring Communities Project with funding from Cheshire East Carers Hub.
The activity allows those who are carers, past carers and the people they care for to have some fun exercise to music.
'Musical Moments provide interactive music based sessions that are suitable for any ability, delivering a wide range of musical games, exercises, activities and live music, there's always something for everyone. Using a range of different musical eras and genres, music is used to help encourage everyone to enjoy music and get involved, increasing well-being and happiness through music, having the opportunity to interact, sing and perform with others in a friendly and informal setting. Our main aim is to make people smile and we certainly achieve this every time we visit Chelford Together!'
Musical Moments provides Community Music Sessions for all groups in the community – aiming to bring joy, happiness and social inclusion to everyone that we work with. Starting back in 2011, Beckie Morley was just about to finish her final year at Leeds College of Music, studying her BA Hons in Music. She had a particular interest in music therapy, music psychology and mostly, how music affects people living with dementia, as her Nana at the time was living with dementia in a care home.
She noticed especially at how much her Nana and the residents responded to music-based activities and entertainment, but couldn't help thinking that there didn't seem to be enough musicians out there doing this important job. After completing a twelve-week placement at a dementia hospital, and graduating with a 2:1, she decided to move back to her home town in Congleton, Cheshire and to deliver some of her sessions to local care homes (including her Nana's care home).
The sessions went down extremely well and were booked again with the care homes, after a few months Beckie found that the sessions were extremely popular and found that she was able to leave her part-time waitressing job and take on her sessions as a full-time job. After two years, Beckie was working with over 60 different care homes across Cheshire and Staffordshire and was also the winner of the East Cheshire Chamber of Commerce's 'Most Promising New Business Award'. This award helped to boost business even more, prompting more charities and other organisations to come forward and take advantage of the service that Musical Moments provides.
Margaret Brown who was a carer for her husband until he passed away 2 years ago and who is a carer for some of her neighbours says: "I think Musical Moments is a fantastic get together where we sing (often out of tune!), have fun and companionship. We love Becky playing the violin and enjoying the fun exercises"
The events take place at Chelford Community Hub on Elmstead Road, Chelford, which has exciting plans for expansion and development.
Chelford Together and Chelford Community Hub are currently developing the Caring Communities Project and have plans to increase awareness of Carers in Cheshire East, develop a Carers Friends Information Session as well as a Carers Exhibition.
For further information about Chelford Together events visit their website. Simply Google Chelford Together!