Silver Song Clubs Singing on prescription Matthew Raisbeck -Programme Manager Meeting Older People's Social and Emotional Aspirations 1 st July 2010

Sing For Your Life Registered charity founded in 2005 Grew out of work carried out by Sidney De Haan Research Centre Growing interest in the potential for the arts to contribute to health and wellbeing Move from ‘Illness’ to ‘Health’ ‘With ageing, art is like chocolate for the brain’ Gene Cohen - Director Centre for Ageing, Health and Humanities, Washington DC

At present we…. Operate over 40 Silver Song Clubs Hold the ‘V’ award for volunteering excellence UK example of best practice for EU healthPROelderly project Special commendation from the Royal Society for Public Health Arts and Health Awards

What is a Silver Song Club? Regular session of participatory singing and music making Research driven and professionally delivered Monitored and evaluated to achieve pre- determined outcomes A front line Non-Pharmacological Intervention (NPI) as advocated by the BMA

My Bonnie My Bonnie lies over the ocean My Bonnie lies over the sea My Bonnie lies over the ocean Oh bring back my bonnie to me Bring back, bring back Oh bring back my bonnie to me, to me Bring back, bring back Oh bring back my bonnie to me

Cockles and Mussels In Dublin’s fair city, where girls are so pretty I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone As she wheeled her wheelbarrow Through streets broad and narrow Crying ‘cockles and mussels, alive, alive-o!’ Alive, alive-o! Crying ‘cockles and mussels, alive, alive-o!’

Why sing? Raises Oxytocin, associated with social bonding and the formation of new memory Reduces ‘Cortisol’, the stress hormone Increases Melatonin, a deficiency of which is associated with seasonal affective disorder Raises levels of Immunoglobulin A, which helps to protect against infection

Why Not Sing? Improves overall rating of physical health Fewer doctor visits Less medication use Fewer instances of falls Increased morale Less loneliness

Why doesn’t everyone sing? Not perceived as treatment or intervention Promotes social inclusion Benefits for carers including re- establishing relationships between carers and cared for Increased staff morale

My Hat My Hat it has three corners Three corners has my hat And had it not three corners It would not be my hat

Quodlibet 1 Oh when the saints …. 2 Swing low, sweet chariot … 3 Oh you take the high road …

Contact us Sing For Your Life Shepway Business Centre Shearway Business Park Folkestone Kent CT19 4RH