Case Study: Sing For Fun

St Monica Trust is funding a Community Development Officer role in the Woodspring area of North Somerset - this role supports existing groups and assists in the creation of new ones within the locality to encourage engagement from older people and combat isolation.

The funding is part of a three-year project which is now in its final year and has helped to support a number of projects since it began in 2020.

One of the groups supported by this initiative is Sing For Fun, an inclusive singing group run by Churchill Music, which meets once a week to sing, chat and connect.

Singing and more

Whilst the group is focused on singing - it offers much more to those who attend. Refreshments are served after the group which presents an opportunity for people to chat with one another, helping to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Research has shown that singing can offer a variety of health benefits, including improving heart rate, reducing blood pressure, and relieving stress and anxiety. Several studies have also shown that it can benefit people living with dementia.

Community development

The Community Development Officer, Tina Huckle-Mills plays a key role in facilitating groups and identifying needs within the community. She uses an asset-based approach to empower and enable people to make decisions that affect them and their well-being - building communities from the inside out.

Charitable Impact

The Trust’s charitable impact team helps tackle a variety of issues by distributing in excess of £750,000 to individuals, families, and organisations across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and Bath & North-East Somerset.

The team provides gifts and grants that go directly to those who will benefit the most and are committed to helping more people by increasing the amount distributed over the next few years.