The idea
Across Kent, thousands of people live with dementia, and numbers continue to rise as the local population ages. Musical Walkabout CIC is launching "Songsters Across Kent", a 12-month programme of dementia-friendly singing sessions. Working with 11 confirmed community partners ~ Age UK centres, Memory Cafés, assisted living communities and local dementia forums ~ the project will deliver 60 professionally facilitated group singing sessions for 200 people in accessible, familiar venues.
Funding supports practitioner delivery, travel to urban and rural locations, venue hire, accessible session materials, and an inclusion fund helping people attend where transport or cost is a barrier.
Sessions are co-created with participants, building shared repertoires and practical take-home music resources. By embedding activity within existing community networks, the project creates a structured, replicable model for creative wellbeing support that local partners can sustain beyond the funded period.
What we'll deliver
- Partner and share practice with 11 community hubs across Kent
- Deliver 60 free dementia-friendly singing sessions across Kent
- Reach 200 people impacted by dementia across Kent
- Develop a scalable creative care model for local authorities and health partners to adopt
- Raise awareness on music, dementia and wellbeing through our social media audience engagement
- Produce accessible, sharable resources on music, dementia and wellbeing for Songsters participants
Why it's a great idea
Research proves group singing is profoundly beneficial for people living with dementia: studies link it with
~ improved mood
~ cognitive stimulation
~ reduced anxiety
~ stronger social connection.
A Songster said “Sessions lift our mood...we feel happier!”
We will strengthen local community infrastructure in Folkestone, Hythe, Ashford, Canterbury, Gravesend, St Margaret’s, Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook, Faversham, Sevenoaks and Dartford by giving carers, families, volunteers and support staff shared creative experiences that enhance relationships and reduce isolation. Hosting sessions within established hubs also increases confidence among partner organisations to continue creative wellbeing activity in future.
Wider benefits include increased awareness of dementia-inclusive practice, stronger cross-sector collaboration, and accessible creative resources that participants can continue using at home — helping music remain part of daily creative care long after sessions end.
Steps to get it done
- Funding secured; project launch by Musical Walkabout CIC; confirm partner logistics, safeguarding and delivery schedule.
- Collaborate with partners to engage participants, share project plan, and ensure accessible, inclusive participation.
- Roll out 60 dementia-friendly music sessions over 12 months, enabling consistent attendance, accessibility and feedback.
- Capture participant experiences, document outcomes, and develop shareable resources to extend benefits beyond sessions.
- Sharing event, publish evaluation findings, and develop next-step partnerships to expand creative wellbeing provision.
