In April 2017 we were successful in bidding to The Mayor's Fund for some cash for basic equipment to set up our musical reminiscence group aimed at people with dementia and their carers.
We were thrilled to get the funding, support from brilliant staff at Barnsley Alzheimer's Society and have lots of library staff enthusiasm, but to be honest no-one came at all to our first two advertised sessions in early summer 2017 and we were getting despondent!
Then at our third session, in walked three sets of amazing families, and they are still laughing about our shocked faces and how amazed we were that someone had turned up!
We started our singalong to various classics by Doris Day, Bing Crosby, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, and some rock and roll, and looked at Memory Boxes at half-time with a cuppa. We had finally got started. We took requests of songs that they had fond memories of, or more recent music they simply enjoy singing along to, and thankfully they came back for the next session to hear their requests and haven't missed any sessions since.
Pete and Val, two of our founders even organise their holidays to avoid missing a M&M session which makes us feel really humble and grateful for their support.
One of our founding members Frank Brown had to go into Parkside care home when his health deteriorated last winter, and we missed his twinkle and his solos. So we hatched a plan with his partner Gill Partington and decided if he couldn't come to us, then we would go to him.
As we were now a group 'on tour' to the care home, one of our founders, Julia came up with the name 'LAFFALOT' - 'Ladies And Friends From 'Ar Library On Tour' -a perfect name- as we do as much laughing as singing at our sessions.
We love going out on tour and if you would like us to spread some musical joy in your community then contact us at: barnsleylibraryenquiries@barnsley.gov.uk
These founding members basically sum up the sheer joy of sharing music together and have been a huge support to us in developing the group, spreading the word to bring us many more lovely enthusiastic group members and basically telling everyone they need 'Music and Memories' in their lives.
We now have a large group of regulars and some have no connection to dementia in their lives but just love coming and joining in which we are all thrilled about. The more the merrier-join us anytime you like!
We were thrilled to get the funding, support from brilliant staff at Barnsley Alzheimer's Society and have lots of library staff enthusiasm, but to be honest no-one came at all to our first two advertised sessions in early summer 2017 and we were getting despondent!
Then at our third session, in walked three sets of amazing families, and they are still laughing about our shocked faces and how amazed we were that someone had turned up!
We started our singalong to various classics by Doris Day, Bing Crosby, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, and some rock and roll, and looked at Memory Boxes at half-time with a cuppa. We had finally got started. We took requests of songs that they had fond memories of, or more recent music they simply enjoy singing along to, and thankfully they came back for the next session to hear their requests and haven't missed any sessions since.
Pete and Val, two of our founders even organise their holidays to avoid missing a M&M session which makes us feel really humble and grateful for their support.
One of our founding members Frank Brown had to go into Parkside care home when his health deteriorated last winter, and we missed his twinkle and his solos. So we hatched a plan with his partner Gill Partington and decided if he couldn't come to us, then we would go to him.
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| Barnsley Chronicle article |
As we were now a group 'on tour' to the care home, one of our founders, Julia came up with the name 'LAFFALOT' - 'Ladies And Friends From 'Ar Library On Tour' -a perfect name- as we do as much laughing as singing at our sessions.
We love going out on tour and if you would like us to spread some musical joy in your community then contact us at: barnsleylibraryenquiries@barnsley.gov.uk
These founding members basically sum up the sheer joy of sharing music together and have been a huge support to us in developing the group, spreading the word to bring us many more lovely enthusiastic group members and basically telling everyone they need 'Music and Memories' in their lives.
We now have a large group of regulars and some have no connection to dementia in their lives but just love coming and joining in which we are all thrilled about. The more the merrier-join us anytime you like!
