A borough housing organisation has expressed how much it cares for older residents by helping a group which connects people through the power of music.

Trafford Housing Trust (THT) has delivered a £70,000 grant to String of Hearts, a Trafford community arts organisation brings older adults together through music-making.

String of Hearts aims to combat loneliness and improve well-being for older people across Trafford through group music sessions, music phone calls, recordings and showcase events.

The THT grant will allow the group to extend its support to more than 1,000 elderly people suffering from social isolation and to continue sessions over the phone for those unable to leave their homes, especially important for older people who need to re-engage post-Covid.

Co-director and founder of String of Hearts, Lucy Geddes, said: “We’re passionate about supporting people to live well in older age and shining a light on the creativity and skills of older adults in our communities.”

Zoe Taylor, communities manager at THT, added: “Being able to bring these to our sheltered schemes and wider audiences - to people who have been badly impacted by isolation during Covid - is a priority to us at THT.

"The energy in the sessions is heart-warming and inspirational.”

String of Hearts group activities take place in community venues and healthcare settings, including Limelight Old Trafford, Coppice Library in Sale, Broomwood Community Wellbeing Centre in Timperley, Old Trafford Wellbeing Centre, and Manchester Brooklands Church of the Nazarene in Wythenshawe.