A ONE-OFF event in Chester this weekend will celebrate Global Intergenerational Week as children, families, older people and carers are invited to sing together this Saturday (April 27).

Ready Generations and Healthbox have come together to create the event under the leadership of local intergenerational music provider Live The Beat.

“We want to create a heart-warming event to inspire and bring people together, and show the wonder of intergenerational singing,” said Live The Beat owner, Amanda Wrigley.

Ready Generations, a national charity based in Liverpool which promotes connections between intergenerational groups, has been working with Healthbox CIC (Community Interest Company), a not-for-profit provider of health and wellbeing centred services in local communities in and around Cheshire.

Thanks to funding from the Cheshire Community Foundation, they were able to offer Live The Beat intergenerational singing sessions in a number of Chester care homes.

Both groups saw positive results from bringing together young children and older people for these experiences. With that in mind, they have worked alongside Amanda, of Tarporley[1]based Live The Beat, to create an event to showcase the impact of her inclusive music sessions, whilst also marking 2024’s Global Intergenerational Week.

“Our research shows the huge effect that creative, intergenerational opportunities have on their participants’ mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing,” said Sue Egersdorff, Co-Founder of Ready Generations.

“At Belong intergenerational care village in Chester it’s been incredibly moving to see the impact of connecting the young and their older friends. Live The Beat sessions have provided a unique opportunity for relationships to strengthen between young and old, and wellbeing to thrive across the ages.”

“We’ve invited local primary schools, pre-schools, nurseries, and care homes where Live The Beat sessions have taken place,” said Amanda. ““But tickets to the event are open to all in the hope we can create the UK’s biggest ever intergenerational sing along!”

Since first creating intergenerational singing experiences in care homes in 2019, Amanda has had a front-row seat to witness the profound effect her sessions have on participants:

“Carers tell me how they can see their residents ‘unfurl’ and come to life when the music starts, and I see for myself how they become more playful and confident throughout the session.

“For the younger members of our groups they are forced out of their comfort zone, enjoying the company of people they wouldn’t normally spend time with, and as the weeks pass, forming relationships with their ‘grandfriends’.”

Two sessions will take place on the day to allow as many participants as possible, with a programme of old classics and modern songs familiar to both age groups. Signed up for the events already are a 100-year-old care home resident who is a Live The Beat regular, and a 96-year-old music session member with two of her great-grandchildren.

Hollie McDiarmid, Social Prescriber Link Worker at Healthbox said: “This event is about bringing communities together through the power of music. Singing is something we can all enjoy, which brings great pleasure to everyone, from the tiniest to the oldest in our society.

“Whilst the Chester Sing Along is a celebration of what has already been achieved in Chester in terms of intergenerational experiences, it also marks the start of what’s to come: more opportunities for children and older people to get together and feel the power and connection of singing.”

The Chester Sing Along will take place at The Hammond School at 1:15pm and 3:15pm on Saturday, April 27, parents, children and care home residents and their carers are all welcome to attend.