People in Chester are invited to join a singing celebration to mark Global Intergenerational Week

Ready Generations and Healthbox have come together to create this one-off event under the leadership of local intergenerational music provider Live The Beat.

Live The Beat owner Amanda Wrigley said:

“We want to create a heart-warming event to inspire and bring people together, and show the wonder of intergenerational singing,” 

Ready Generations, a national charity based in Liverpool which promotes connections between intergenerational groups, has been working with Healthbox CIC (Community Interest Company), a not-for-profit provider of health and wellbeing centred services in local communities in and around Cheshire.

Thanks to funding from the Cheshire Community Foundation, they were able to offer Live The Beat intergenerational singing sessions in a number of Chester care homes.

Both groups saw positive results from bringing together young children and older people for these experiences. With that in mind, they have worked alongside Amanda, of Tarporley-based Live The Beat, to create an event to showcase the impact of her inclusive music sessions, whilst also marking 2024’s Global Intergenerational Week.

Sue Egersdorff, Co-Founder of Ready Generations said:

“Our research shows the huge effect that creative, intergenerational opportunities have on their participants’ mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing. At Belong intergenerational care village in Chester it’s been incredibly moving to see the impact of connecting the young and their older friends. Live The Beat sessions have provided a unique opportunity for relationships to strengthen between young and old, and wellbeing to thrive across the ages.”

The two events are being held on Saturday 27^th April at The Hammond School; welcoming parents, children and care home residents and their carers to an hour-long Sing Along.

Amanda added:

“We’ve invited local primary schools, pre-schools, nurseries, and care homes where Live The Beat sessions have taken place. But tickets to the event are open to all in the hope we can create the UK’s biggest ever intergenerational sing along!”

Since first creating intergenerational singing experiences in care homes in 2019, Amanda has had a front-row seat to witness the profound effect her sessions have on participants:

She said:

“Carers tell me how they can see their residents ‘unfurl’ and come to life when the music starts, and I see for myself how they become more playful and confident throughout the session.

“For the younger members of our groups they are forced out of their comfort zone, enjoying the company of people they wouldn’t normally spend time with, and as the weeks pass, forming relationships with their ‘grandfriends’.”

Two events will take place on the day to allow as many participants as possible, with a programme of old classics and modern songs familiar to both age groups. Signed up for the events already are a 100-year-old care home resident who is a Live The Beat regular, and a 96-year-old music session member with two of her great-grandchildren.

Hollie McDiarmid, Social Prescriber Link Worker at Healthbox said:

“This event is about bringing communities together through the power of music. Singing is something we can all enjoy, which brings great pleasure to everyone, from the tiniest to the oldest in our society.

“Whilst the Chester Sing Along is a celebration of what has already been achieved in Chester in terms of intergenerational experiences, it also marks the start of what’s to come: more opportunities for children and older people to get together and feel the power and connection of singing.”

The following care and education providers will be in attendance:

Belong, Chester; Wealstone, Upton; Upton Dene, Upton; Grosvenor Manor, Chester; Oak Grange, Mollington; Orchard Manor, Upton

The Spinney Day Nursery, Hoole; Chestnut House, Saughall; The Nursery in Belong, Chester; Headstart Nursery, Upton; Kids Planet, Great Boughton

Hoole C of E Primary; St Oswalds C E Aided Primary; Dorin Park Special School; Queen’s Lower School; Boughton Heath Academy; Acresfield Primary; Grosvenor Park C of E Academy

For more information about Healthbox visit: 

healthboxcic.com

For more information about Ready Generations visit: 

readygenerations.co.uk

For more information about Live The Beat visit: 

livethebeat.co.uk

The Chester Sing Along will take place on Saturday 27^th April, at 1:15pm and 3:15pm at The Hammond School, Chester.