MEMBERS of a music community group which recently received a huge £70,000 boost have told how the sessions help them when 'life is a bit lonely'.
This week, String of Hearts received £70,000 from Trafford Housing Trust.
The group aims to connect older people in the Trafford area through music-making, using improvisation to enable people to express themselves and bond.
At their workshop in Coppice Library on Friday, co-director Lucy Geddes discussed how the grant would help to fund their workshops and the community they provide to older people.
Lucy said: “I think there’s a big narrative around older people being vulnerable when, despite all the challenges they might go through in later life with health issues and financial issues, people have so much wisdom and skills to share.”
An aim of the organisation is to offer a space for people to connect and combat social isolation.
Craig Brownsell, from Trafford Housing Trust, said: “It’s hugely important particularly on the back of the Covid pandemic, a lot of people are sometimes lonely, sometimes isolated, particularly the elderly groups.”
Graham was referred to String of Hearts by his GP and he spoke about how important the group is for his socialisation. He said: “Life is a bit lonely really, when you’re living on your own and you haven’t got a lot to do and I was very enlightened by the first session, it suited me because we were talking about music.”
He said his favourite part of the session was “the togetherness of musically minded people, and we seem to have the same ideals.”
Margaret has attended String of Hearts workshops since the group's founding in 2019. She used to sing in church and enjoys getting to sing her favourite songs at the workshops.
“I made a lot of friends from here and I miss them when I’m not there and they miss me too, because I want to make them laugh, crack jokes and talk to them.
“When you come out here you get something to look forward to, to come in another two weeks.”
String of Hearts hold workshops in venues across Trafford including Limelight in Old Trafford, Coppice Library in Sale, Broomwood Community Centre in Timperley, Old Trafford Well Being Centre, and Church of the Nazarene in Wythenshawe.
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