Colleagues and residents at
HC-One’s Dove Court care home, in Burnley, Lancashire, joined in with the national campaign Sing4Stroke with some good old-fashioned singing alongside friends from BT Companions.
The campaign, which is organised by the Stroke Association and takes place on World Stroke Day (29th October), aims to spread awareness of stroke through the joy of singing.
The Stroke Association has published on their website details about the event:
“Raise your voice this World Stroke Day and #Sing4Stroke on 29 Oct
1 in 3 stroke survivors will experience aphasia – making it difficult for them to speak or communicate. Mums, dads, grandparents, young people, even children can be left unable to see, speak, or even swallow. Being unable to express yourself can be incredibly frustrating. It can make you feel isolated and lonely.
But there is hope. Amazingly, singing ability is often preserved in people with aphasia.
Join us for #Sing4Stroke and help stroke survivors find their voice again. You can sing together or solo, on World Stroke Day itself or on another day if that works better for you. You could sing at home, the office, school or organise your own event. Raise £150 and you will receive a medal!”
To mark the occasion, Dove Court welcomed their friends from BT Companions, including call centre staff Saif Bait, Ella Walsh, Shez Noor and Hassan Makda, who kindly volunteered their own time to come and sing with residents.
Residents already have a weekly choir practice and have been practising lots of songs for the event. Songs were especially picked by residents at the residential, nursing and dementia care home, who chose their favourite songs to sing as part of World Stroke Day alongside friends.
Gloria Greenwood, who lives at Dove Court, chose the iconic song ‘Getting to know you’, which is one of her favourites from the musical The King and I. She said:
“I’ve had an absolutely great time with great company.”
Fellow resident Margaret Drumond remarked:
"It was great fun"
Shez Noor, who volunteered for the afternoon from BT Companions said:
“It was absolutely fantastic and an eye-opening experience.”
Another volunteer, Ella Walsh, added:
“It was a lovely afternoon, singing with the residents and making them smile.”
Cat Brierley Home Manager at Dove Court, remarked:
“It was lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves. Thank you to BT call centre staff for taking the time out of their busy working week to volunteer.”