A NEW singing group is being launched in North Yorkshire for people with Parkinson’s disease or dementia.

To mark World Parkinson’s Day, a new group, Sing Together, is being launched in Northallerton. The choir is tailored to its members’ needs and their challenges and is also open to their carers.

It is run by volunteers and is being launched to coincide with World Parkinson’s Day on April 11.

The global awareness day was set up by the European Parkinson’s Disease Association to improve understanding of the condition.

Sheila Smith, from the group, said: “It is undisputed that singing is an excellent, non- medicinal, therapy for both Parkinson’s and dementia with the added benefit of being a very enjoyable and social activity.

"The group is run entirely by volunteers with a passion music and singing and its set up was made possible by the generous support of North Yorkshire County Council’s locality budgets funding and the Grace Gardiner Trust, to which we are very grateful.”

The group meets at Romanby Methodist Church Hall, on Harewood Lane, Romanby on the second Tuesday of the month, from 2pm to 3.30pm. The cost is £2 per person, including refreshments.

For further details contact Sheila on 01609-773514.