A SINGING group has been awarded a grant of more than £3,000 to provide musical activities in the community.

Sing Together was set up by volunteers for people with dementia or Parkinson’s disease and their carers. Music has been proven to unlock memories and to help reach parts of the brain other forms of communication can’t reach with conditions such as dementia.

The group meets every month for singing sessions in Romanby, Northallerton and has now received a lottery grant of £3,100 to further its work.

The money from the Big Lottery Fund will be used to purchase resources and to allow the group to continue to provide musical activities in the community.

A spokesperson for the group said many of its members have had a passion for singing throughout their lives and the group was a safe environment for them to continue.

“We sing a variety of songs from different genres and incorporate various instrument into the session, we even get creative with hand chimes," she said.

“Singing is one of the best non-medicinal therapies for both of these conditions and many of our members have been singers all of their lives but because of the challenges of their condition find it difficult to carry on.

“Sing Together offers the opportunity to carry on doing what they enjoy in an environment that feels safe and comfortable to them, and we will encourage that for as long as they wish, and is practical to do so.”

Sing Together meets on the second Tuesday of the month at Romanby Methodist Church Hall from 2pm to 3.30 pm. For further details contact Sheila on 01609-773514.