The sessions see older people independent living and extra care schemes in Waltham Forest join in with popular hits from the 1940s to the 1980s, led by professional musicians

Credit: Shapeshifter Productions/City Bridge Foundation

Hundreds of older people across six east London boroughs will benefit from the joy of singing thanks to new funding for a performing arts charity.

Shapeshifter Productions will run its ‘Smiling Sessions’ in 30 independent living and extra care schemes in Waltham Forest, Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, and Redbridge.

The sessions see older people join in with popular hits from the 1940s to the 1980s, led by professional musicians including Alison Jones, the charity’s founder and artistic director.

Over 450 older people are expected to benefit from the scheme, supported through a £98,970, five-year grant from City Bridge Foundation – London’s biggest independent charity funder.

Paul Martinelli, City Bridge Foundation chair, said: “Singing as part of a group has well known benefits to physical and mental health – particularly for isolated and vulnerable people.

“With our funding, The Smiling Sessions will enable older people across East London to benefit from the joy of singing, to boost their health and to build connections with their neighbours.”

The Smiling Sessions typically run over six 90-minute sessions, which often have a profound effect on the lives of those taking part, according to its founder.

Alison Jones, Shapeshifter founder and artistic director, said: “We work with people who, although they are neighbours, often don’t speak to each other or know each other’s names.

“By the third or fourth session there’s a huge change in people as they feel they can trust us and begin to relax with us and each other. We see a big improvement in their general happiness and it gives them something to look forward to.

“Having the City Bridge Foundation funding for five years is huge for us. It’s a big weight off our minds and will make our life so much easier.”

The grant is one of over 400, totalling over £55 million, awarded since October, when City Bridge Foundation closed its rolling grants programme to new applications for a year, amid unprecedented demand and ahead of the launch of its new funding policy, Standing with Londoners.

More information about The Smiling Sessions is available here, and more infromation about Standing with Londoners is here

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