We have had another week of growth and reflection ahead of Dementia Awareness Week in Scotland that brings with it several different events.
This last week has seen me having discussions about a sixth open access group in another part of town. Our open access groups mean that anyone can attend without the need for referrals or waiting lists. It is a case of come along and enjoy singing, sharing and making new friends. These groups act as an introduction to Forget Me Notes and an introduction to an environment that offers support to those who feel for various reasons it is what they need.
We also visited the North Edinburgh Arts in Muirhouse - what a brilliant new building they have there. It was good to speak to staff and see how we can be of benefit to one another. North Edinburgh Arts are about to offer a meeting place for those in the early stages of dementia, and we are exploring the possibility of a group that will be an intergenerational music and movement group. It will be like All Singing and Dancing but for all and allow us to do all kinds of music and dance, from Ceilidh, to Rock and Roll, to chair dancing.
The one thing you realise when supporting people with a lived experience of dementia is that dementia never has a break so the need to find different and inclusive opportunities for support is on-going.
The week ahead is Dementia Awareness Week in Scotland and Volunteers’ Week which means a busy schedule. We are singing at the City Chambers tonight to welcome those people who have been nominated for an Inspiring Volunteers award. These are always exciting evenings and are a way of acknowledging the work of so many wonderful people. We are singing in the courtyard as people arrive. In the usual Forget Me Notes style we will be encouraging people to join in and sing along.
On Thursday we will be singing in the Gyle shopping centre for Dementia Awareness week, so if you are from Edinburgh and have some time between 10:30am and 12pm then why not drop in and see us. You could even sing a song or two with us. It will be an opportunity to highlight the issues faced by those with a lived experience of dementia and their carers. In the afternoon we are in Saughton Park for an extra special session that will include goodies. What goodies remain to be seen as they are being brought by some of the choir members themselves. I am sure we will be in for a great afternoon as long as the weather holds.
On Friday we are at the Festival Theatre for another Together in Song. These sessions are always great and this time it is musicals month. We are having a performance by the staff choir which is great.
Do you feel tired reading this? Well so do I now that I am writing it. What I do now is that after a busy week we will have had so many opportunities to share music and memory with those who need time and space to express themselves in song.