SINGERS are invited to join in with gusto when singers from an Okehampton care home give a concert at Fairplace Church this weekend.

Members of the choir from Kent House Care Home will cross the street to take part in the concert on Saturday, October 26 from 2-4pm.

Their repertoire ­— which they have been practising in regular Monday morning singing sessions — features uplifting songs from the shows.

Kate Thompson, well-being and activities coordinator for Kent House Care Home, said: ‘Everyone is welcome to come and listen and they are even more welcome to come along if they enjoy singing. All the words will be up on a screen so people don’t need to worry if they can’t read small-print.

‘Most people will recognise the songs. There are things from Mary Poppins and The Sound of Music and songs that will be very familiar to many people.’

’The singing group we have is led by Elaine Lightfoot. Her singing group has been going for nearly ten years now. We started it because we know that singing is really good for you from the point of view of well-being.

‘You can forget your worries and just have a good sing, it is a bit of an emotional release.

‘When you see the enjoyment on people’s faces you realise it really does work.’

She said the concert was a chance to show the quality of the musical output. Its singers all live at the care home on George Street, where residents are aged from their 70s to 100.

‘It is a celebration,’ she said. ‘It is about celebrating the abilities of older people and showing what they can do.

‘People can be quick to think of all the things older people can’t do but we want to bring people in and show what they can do.’

Elaine added: ‘The magic that happens each week for us is that some residents who have difficulty with verbal communication due to dementia-related conditions can still remember songs.

‘Music appears to open a door to communication and it is great for breathing and well-being. Sharing the musical magic with the wider community is something everyone at Kent House is very excited about.’