our songs our stories
Music + Connection + Support = wellbeing
Our Songs our Stories is a creative health project, founded on the body of evidence around the impact of music-based activity on people living with Dementia and those who care for them to:
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improve physical and mental health
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improve connections and relationships
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combat loneliness and isolation
This project was originally commissioned by East Sussex County Council Public Health with the key aim of exploring models of practice that can meet the growing needs in our community, achieving quality and sustainability through partnership, skills, and resource development.
The first phase of the activity focused on delivery within care settings in locations with high levels of deprivation and need; in Newhaven in partnership with Sussex Community Development Association and in Sidley with Southern Housing as well as two care homes in Hastings, Castlemaine Care Home and Grosvenor House Care Home.
As part of this commission, we also worked with the Community 21 design team from the University of Brighton to design resources and training to support this activity.
“I went to a Dementia café and it was sad. Everyone sat around talking about their problems and not doing anything. I understand carers need to talk and share. But, here we can have fun together and laugh together. It helps us forget our problems and be ourselves, a couple again”
[Participant, Southern Housing]
“We came to visit our dad at Castlemaine and Culture Shift were doing an interactive session with the residents. It was wonderful to see the interest and interaction between the residents – and they wrote a fabulous song! We would like to see more of this type of therapeutic input for the residents. Thank you”
[Family member of resident, Castlemaine Care Home]
“When you think of it, we are making art all the time through laughing and smiling. We are all works of art!”
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Our creative team
In addition to our community partners, we have carefully brought together a team of creatives to share skills, experience and ideas within a framework of community action research.
Jane Haughton
Jane Haughton
Consultant Practitioner
Jane has worked for nearly 20 years as a professional musician, leading community choirs as well as opera and music projects in care homes, prisons and schools. For over 14 years she's been involved with Raise Your Voice, a Dementia and music charity.
Sam Glazer
Sam Glazer
Creative Facilitator
Sam is a composer, cellist and creative leader. For nearly 20 years he has been involved with Wigmore Hall’s Music for Life project, working in care homes with people with Dementia, and co-founded Raise Your Voice Opera, Glyndebourne’s group for people with Dementia and their carers.
Janey Moffat
Janey Moffat
Creative Facilitator
Janey is a visual artist who combines fabric, paper and stitch with drawing, painting and mark-making. Her work is deeply affected by her youth growing up in the Troubles of Northern Ireland, exploring trauma and healing.
Sam Baldwin
Sam Baldwin
Creative Facilitator
Sam is a recording artist and multi-instrumentalist and has also been a music facilitator for young people and adults with learning disabilities and autism for the last 10 years.
Tom Cook
Tom Cook
Creative Facilitator
Tom has been working as an multi-instrumentalist musician and music producer for 25 years. He creates music for TV, theatre, the gaming industry and as a community artist specialising in working with children, young people and learning disabled people.