Span Arts’ new project, Caring Choirs, began in earnest this autumn.

They have been working with Age Cymru and the Alzheimer’s Society to identify care settings in Pembrokeshire where singing sessions can be held targeting older people, including those with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Local choir leaders Maya Waldman and Molara are now leading fortnightly singing sessions at the Lee Davies Day Care Centre in Narberth, Brooklands Nursing Home in Saundersfoot and Belvedere House in Tenby.

“It’s incredible to see how music unlocks people,” Maya Waldman said. “It creates a channel of communication for people with dementia. And it’s a pleasure to interact with people on that level and wonderful to see their enjoyment.”

Maya and Molara are being joined by a small group of volunteers, most of whom are members of local community choirs Sweet Harmony, One Voice, Singing Village, Côr Megaffon and Llangrannog Choir.

Volunteer Rosemary said: “I think it’s all going very well and people are enjoying it, having fun and becoming more open. Even quiet people are engaging more.”

Singing is proven to be good for you. It enhances the memory, engenders a sense of community and there are physical benefits from the aerobic activity of singing and warm-up exercises, including improved lung function. Singing has even been shown to boost the immune system.

Caring Choirs will culminate with a visit to the Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival in February 2016. Participants are going to have the opportunity of singing along with Côr Pawb, the mass intergenerational community choir organised by Span Arts’ Cheerful Project, who will perform at St. Andrew’s Church in Narberth to open the festival on Thursday, February 18.

Narberth A Cappella Voice Festival is a celebration of singing without instruments. It’s the only festival of its kind in Wales and returns to Narberth for its eighth consecutive year on February 18-21.