We’re really excited to be bringing back Songs & Smiles. It will be a gradual return, starting with a handful of summer specials in August. We’re putting new safety protocols in place, so things will feel a bit different. But you can be sure of bags of music, fun and friendship, just like before.
Our joy-filled initiative has spread cheer, reduced loneliness and created multi-age friendships across the nation. The Hand in Hand Together campaign addressed the isolation and sadness that so many of us experienced during lockdown. It provided a fun, creative way for children and parents to link up with older generations, and celebrated the simple, restorative power of human connection.
Read MoreRound-up of Virtual Songs & Smiles for National Intergenerational Week
During National Intergenerational Week, The Together Project ran free Virtual Songs & Smiles sessions for young children, their parents/ carers and older people in care homes.
Over 283 children, parents/carers, residents and care home staff across the UK all partied together!
...at whatever stage of life’s journey we’re at. For the very young, listening to music and learning the words to songs helps our brains grow and develop. For older people, particularly those living with dementia, familiar songs from times gone by often remain in our brains long after more recent memories have faded, and the act of recalling them can bring powerful, positive effects. For everyone, music can help lift mood, calm us down and bring us together.
Read MoreBy combining music and movement with the presence of young children, our Songs & Smiles sessions can have a magical transformative effect on older people living in care homes - reducing loneliness and isolation, lifting mood and even improving cognitive and motor skills.
Read MoreWe were delighted to contribute to a vital report released this month about the importance of creating a ‘country for all ages’ in the new decade, as well as welcoming Sky News to Songs & Smiles for a feature on its release. Compiled by influential think tank United for All Ages the Together In The 2020s report highlights how we must tackle ageism, loneliness, health, care, learning and housing to help unite Great Britain.
Read MoreEvery day, we see first hand the enormous impact music has on the wellbeing of our Songs & Smiles participants. So, we’re delighted to be supporting BBC Music Day on Thursday 26 September. It tops off an exciting month for The Together Project as we’ve launched new Songs & Smiles sessions in Bow, Leytonstone and Brighton. We now run weekly sessions in 16 locations, including in our first sheltered housing accommodation.
Read MoreSummer always feels like a good time to take a breath, take stock and get ready for the rest of the year. So, what’s been going on recently at The Together Project? And what do we have planned for our next chapter?
Read MoreThe benefits of Songs & Smiles go way beyond the hour-long session. Here, we shine a spotlight on some of the important – and often unseen – ways in which your visit with your child will impact people’s lives.
Read MoreMoving to the non-profit sector is simultaneously one of the most rewarding, frustrating, empowering and challenging things I’ve ever done. The benefits are immense – our time and energy are directed towards activities that make a tangible, positive impact on people’s lives, which gives an incredible sense of purpose. But it’s no secret that, in these times of austerity, funding to help ventures such as ours can be incredibly hard to come by.
We receive many wonderful messages of support about our work from across the globe, so I wanted to give you a list of easy actions you could take that would make a real difference to us.
Read MoreWhen the benefits of intergenerational activities are discussed, the emphasis is often placed on outcomes for the older participants. But at Songs & Smiles we know that all three generations involved gain a huge amount – children, their parents/guardians and the care home residents.
We collected impact statements from some of the parents and guardians who attend our groups to learn more about what they feel these benefits are, for themselves and for their little ones. We were delighted to see that they are numerous, profound and – in some cases – life-changing.
Read MoreEvaluating the impact on care home residents at risk of social isolation and those living with dementia
Read MoreAt The Together Project. we receive lots of lovely messages from people across the country who are interested in taking their little one into a care home. And with the new series of Channel 4’s Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds on our screens, interest is at an all-time high!
If you’re thinking of starting your own toddler care home group, we’ve got some tips to help you out…
Read MoreWe're hugely excited to announce that we've partnered with Hallmark Care Homes to launch Songs & Smiles across the country.
Read MoreKarolina, Activities Coordinator at Ross Wyld Care Home, and residents Jim and Sheila, talk about the impact that Songs & Smiles has had on the home.
Read MoreThe Together Project believes passionately in the benefits of introducing children to concepts such as ageing, disability and conditions like dementia from a young age. It helps to reduce stigma and fear whilst building understanding and empathy.
So we're big supporters of the Ally Bally Bee Project, an incredibly useful resource for families wanting to explain a loved one's dementia to a young child. We caught up with the team to share the wonderful work they're doing...
Read MoreVera is a spirited, forthright lady living with dementia in a care home. She’s a new member of our Songs & Smiles group.
Read MoreYesterday I attended the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Social Integration’s inquiry into Intergenerational Connection, chaired by Chuka Umunna MP. Its purpose is to explore how well our communities are living together and what we might do to strengthen the ties that bind us.
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The Together Project has been receiving some amazing media coverage recently. Click on the following links to...
Read MoreOur vision is a country where young and older people come into regular contact through fun and engaging activities. But why is this so important?
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