Published on 11th November 2013

Logo for Strawberry Singers

Local group, Strawberry Singers, will be starting new singing sessions at six care homes around the borough, thanks to a funding boost from Cheltenham Borough Council’s Community Pride Fund.

Strawberry Singers are a unique parent and child singing group that visit care homes to sing songs with residents.

Susan Hamilton, founder of Strawberry Singers, says: “We currently have six homes waiting to start new sessions with us, and thanks to funding from the council’s Community Pride Scheme we will now be able to make this happen.

“For residents it really is an instant mood lifter. They really look forward to it and make a special effort to attend. For the children it’s a chance to learn and share new songs from different cultures and eras. For the parents it provides regular, affordable learning and play and a great support network.”
 
Richard Gibson, strategy and engagement manager for Cheltenham Borough Council, says: “We’re pleased to be able to help give funding to such worthwhile local community groups. Strawberry Singers is run entirely by volunteers and brings so much joy to elderly residents around the borough.”

To find out more about Strawberry Singers or if you would like to join a group please contact Susan Hamilton on 07703 165500 or drop her an email. 

For press enquiries contact: Kelly Carter, communications officer, telephone 01242 264154, email [email protected]
 
Photo opportunity: The Strawberry Singers will be performing at St Faith’s Nursing Home on Wednesday 13 November at 10.30am. The address is St Faith’s Nursing Home, Malvern Road, Cheltenham, GL50 2NR. Photographers are welcome to attend. Please call Kelly to confirm if you wish to attend, so we can arrange this with the nursing home.

Notes:
As part of the 2013-14 budget, agreed by Council on 8 February 2013, £50,000 was set aside for the community pride scheme. In addition, a further £4,000 was added to the pot from the community development budget to create a community building grant fund.

Both funds were made available to support neighbourhood-based projects that will build up community pride and enable local groups to be more influential in supporting their communities and improving their neighbourhoods. Strawberry Singers received £300 from the community building grant fund.