CARE home residents have enjoyed a concert of live music thanks to a grant from Care UK to the Swaledale Festival.

The £2,000 grant enabled the festival to schedule six concerts in care homes across Richmondshire, including at the Terrace in Richmond.

The Swaledale Festival, which is running until Saturday, June 11, celebrates music and arts in Swaledale, Wensleydale and Arkengarthdale.

Organiser Jill Armstrong said: “The homes have been visited by duo Patricia Hammond and Matt Redman.

Patricia sings and Matt plays a variety of instruments and they are very popular with older people.

“Music is very therapeutic, particularly for those people living with dementia and I know the homes are greatly looking forward to the visits.”

Dianna Coy, Care UK regional director, said: “Residents and the team had a fantastic time when Patricia and Matt from the Wandering Minstrels visited the Terrace.

“We believe that maintaining a close link with the local community is an important part of the care and support we provide to residents, some of whom have lived in the area for many years.

“The Swaledale Festival outreach programme means that even more people can enjoy these wonderful performances.”

Care UK Wellbeing Foundation Board Secretary Rosemary Harvey said: “The board members are very excited that the grant has enabled the Festival to open up so many concerts to the broadest possible range of people in the community.

“The Foundation was set up to help organisations increase wellbeing through the arts and these initiatives do just that. We are also delighted that one of our own care homes, the Terrace, is to host one of the concerts.”