Tag: luminate

I Am The Song: Boo Hewerdine writes a new song for Luminate’s Dementia Inclusive Singing Network

Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing organisation, has just released a new song written by singer/songwriter Boo Hewerdine, for their network of dementia inclusive singing groups and choirs across Scotland to sing.  

I Am The Song was recorded last month at Castlesound Studios in East Lothian and includes vocals by award-winning singer Hannah Rarity, Boo Hewerdine and members of Musselburgh-based dementia inclusive singing group Let’s Sing. 

The music is performed by Iain Sandilands on drums/percussion and Boo Hewerdine on guitar. There is also music for piano accompaniment available for use which was provided by jazz pianist and composer Dave Milligan.  

Let’s Sing led by song leader, singer and composer Penny Stone, meets weekly and supports people living with dementia in the local community by learning and singing a cappella harmony songs together.

Working with Penny and Stephen Deazley, who is Luminate’s Community Music Consultant, the choir recorded the final version of I Am The Song in just two hours.  

Let’s Sing at Castlesound Studios with Boo Hewerdine, Hannah Rarity, Iain Sandilands, Penny Stone, and Stephen Deazley recording I Am The Song. Photo credit Louise Mather. 

I Am The Song builds on the success of Travel These Ways – an earlier collection of songs created by Luminate during the pandemic for people living with dementia. The collection included two songs by award-winning musician Karine Polwart and still continues to be used widely by Scotland’s Dementia Inclusive Singing Network today.  

The Dementia Inclusive Singing Network includes singing groups and choirs based all over Scotland, as well as other community groups and care providers who recognise the benefits of singing, and the positive difference it can make to health and wellbeing. 

The final recorded versions of I Am The Song, including an accompaniment for groups to sing along with, downloadable lyrics and sheet music, is free to use and available on the Dementia Inclusive Singing Network’s website (https://singing.luminatescotland.org/) on a Creative Commons licence. 

Singer/songwriter Boo Hewerdine said: “It was a profound privilege to write this song. I shall never forget our recording day. So joyful.” 

Anne Gallacher, Director of Luminate said: “There’s a growing wealth of evidence of the benefits of singing, and in particular of singing in a group. 

“I am delighted that Boo agreed to write a song for the Dementia Inclusive Singing Network, and I am sure that groups in the Network will love singing it.  We hope to commission more songs over the coming years, and to build up a bank of pieces for our members to sing.”

Song Leader Penny Stone said: “The writing and sharing of this song has meant so much to our community of singers.

“Every time we sing it, at least one of us wells up with the emotion of it all – and not in a bad way! The song has connected with different singers in different ways and feels really special.

“And the process of recording the song with Boo, Hannah and Iain was really special. Many of our singers had never been in a recording studio before, so it felt like a new and unexpected adventure, and it sparked beautiful memories for those of our singers who have made music throughout their lives.”

I Am The Song is available for groups to download from:

https://singing.luminatescotland.org/songs-for-singing-groups-and-choirs/i-am-the-song/

About Boo Hewerdine:

For the last 30 years Boo Hewerdine has been considered as one of the UK’s finest singer/songwriters. From front man of The Bible (Graceland – Honey Be Good) to The Patience of Angels, which was a massive hit for Eddie Reader, he has written for many of today’s stars including: KD Lang, Chris Difford, Kris Drever, etc.

His last album Before was recorded with supreme Danish multi- instrumentalist Gustaf Ljunggren and garnered multiple five-star reviews.

Since then, he has released a lockdown EP, Singularities and a new album on Reveal Records.

New map makes it easy to find dementia inclusive singing groups 

Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing organisation, has created an interactive map to show dementia inclusive singing groups around Scotland. 

Having run Scotland’s Dementia Inclusive Singing Network for the past four years, it has seen the network grow from a handful of members to more than 70, including more than 20 singing groups. The Network now includes groups from Shetland to the Borders, and is always ready to welcome more. 

Maisie Leddy, the Network co-ordinator said: “We’re really pleased to be launching our interactive Network Map, which displays the excellent singing activity offered across the country for people affected by dementia. Our Network is free and easy to join, and all members are invited to add their singing group to our Network Map, if they run one.  

“When adding their details to our Map, we ask every group to complete a simple self-assessment form which helps us to ensure that every group on the map is working in a way that is inclusive for people living with dementia. We want the map to be a growing resource and a valuable tool for people living with dementia and their families and carers.” 

Luminate’s work aims to ensure that older people in Scotland have the opportunity to take part in creative activities, regardless of their circumstances.  The Dementia Inclusive Singing Network is a vital part of Luminate’s programme, supporting choirs and singing groups nationally, and helping people living with dementia to find creative opportunities in their communities. 

In recent years, documentary programmes such as My Dementia Choir fronted by actor Vicki McClure, have demonstrated the enormous potential for connection, enjoyment and wellbeing that singing in a choir or group can bring to those living with dementia.

Dementia UK says that listening to or participating in music – for example, by singing, dancing or playing instruments – can help people living with dementia develop and maintain relationships with others and improve their wellbeing. 

It can: 

·        help people to express their feelings and ideas, verbally and non-verbally 

·        act as a prompt for reminiscing 

·        help people to ‘tell their story’ and share their personal history 

·        encourage physical exercise, dance or movement 

·        encourage social interaction, reduce isolation, and help to engage people in group activities 

Scotland’s Dementia Inclusive Singing Network includes community choirs and singing groups that are open to all but are designed to be dementia inclusive, as well as those that have been specifically created for people living with dementia and their carers. They all have strong local community roots. 

The Dementia Inclusive Singing Network website has many free guides, along with song music and lyrics which can be downloaded for singing groups to use. Regular training and networking activities are offered for song leaders and conductors too.

Luminate hopes the addition of its map (https://singing.luminatescotland.org/find-a-choir-or-singing-group/ ) will mean that many more groups will consider joining the network so people across Scotland can easily find the group nearest to them. 

Enter Luminate’s Creative Ageing Awards – nominations now open

Nominations are now open for Scotland’s Creative Ageing Awards.  These are run by Luminate, Scotland’s organisation for the development of creative ageing and this year’s awards are part of their 10th anniversary celebrations. 

They will recognise arts, crafts, film and creative media projects and activities which target older audiences and participants, or target cross-generational participants – or projects aimed at a wider audience which have a theme related to ageing.   

The definition of “creative ageing” is very wide. Older people engage with the arts and creativity in many ways, and all of them are important.  Activities can be led by professional artists, teachers, community workers, social care and healthcare staff, and/or community volunteers. 

Some projects will be led by a mix of these groups.  Individual awards will recognise an older person who creates their own artistic work, and someone who plays an inspirational role in the field of creative ageing. 

Details of what they are looking for in each of six categories are outlined separately here. 

To be eligible for consideration for a Luminate Creative Ageing Award, each nomination should relate to projects or programmes that: 

  • Focus on the visual arts, performing arts, crafts, film or creative media  
  • Offer an opportunity for people to get involved in, attend or engage with a creative or cultural activity that 
  • either targets older audiences and participants 
  • or targets intergenerational participants 
  • or is aimed at a wider audience and has a theme related to ageing 

They define intergenerational projects as those that bring younger and older people together in creative activities that are mutually beneficial and enjoyable, promoting greater understanding and respect between the generations. 

The closing date for nominations is Sunday 11 September.  

Full details on how to enter a nomination and a link to the form are available here.

Luminate survey about creative work for older adults in Scotland

Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing organisation, are looking for anyone who undertakes creative activities with and for older people to respond to their new survey.

Their work is about ensuring all older people in Scotland can enjoy high quality arts and creative activities, whatever their background and circumstances, and wherever they live.  They want to hear about people’s experiences to help them plan their work for the rest of this year and beyond.

Anyone taking part can win a £50 shopping voucher, and the survey itself should take only about 10 minutes to complete.  All replies will be kept confidential and contact details are only needed for the prize draw, and will not be shared.

The survey will be open until close of play Wednesday 9 February.  

LUMINATE: Art and creativity in Care Homes

Booking is now live for our next creative ageing event Bringing art and creativity back to care homes. Book your place here.

This event, on 30th September at 11am, will bring together community artists with colleagues in health and social care to explore how we might bring art and creativity back into care homes over the coming months.

It will be some time before artist visits to care homes can resume, but what is possible? A small number of activities led or supported by artists are now happening at a distance using online and offline approaches, and usually building on relationships between artists and care homes that existed before lockdown. What can we learn from these experiences? 

This online event is part of a series of Creative Ageing events from Luminate, focusing on how we can continue to support opportunities for older people to engage with the arts. 

Creative activities for older people during lockdown

Luminate has launched Luminate@home sessions every Tuesday and Friday at 2pm on their facebook, youtube & vimeo channels.

It is a new programme of short online films demonstrating creative activities for you to do wherever you are. The activities are presented by professional artists and feature different arts forms including crafts, poetry, music and dance.

Luminate has developed the films in partnership with Scottish Care, and they are aimed at people living in their own homes, as well as care home staff who are looking for ideas of activities for residents.

Scottish Ballet Health are streaming health classes every day at 11.30am. The classes will remain accessible on Facebook so they can also be enjoyed at a later time. More info and the full schedule of classes can be found here.

Sporting memories are making their Sporting Pink a weekly printed publication that they use at their clubs to introduce fun activities and help stimulate sporting memories available to everyone.  It contains articles, quizzes, a sports diary and more.  To find out more and to register visit their website.

Luminate@Home is a programme of online creative activities for older people who are isolated in the current COVID-19 outbreak.

Every Tuesday and Friday, a new short film will be posted online at 2pm to inspire and guide older people through a creative activity that can be done at home or in a care home.

Luminate’s new programme is designed to help people stay engaged and active until the crisis has passed. The activities are presented by professional artists who work regularly with older people in community and care settings, and will feature different arts forms including crafts, poetry, music and dance.

In recent years there has been growing understanding of the positive impact of taking part in creative activities, especially as we get older. An important aspect of this is the ability of arts engagement to help address loneliness and isolation, something which is of concern for older people who are socially distanced or self-isolated in the current situation.

The Luminate team has worked quickly to set up Luminate@Home, offering creative opportunities designed specifically for older people at a time when they may be particularly welcomed.

All the artists involved are missing the regular contact they normally have with the older people they work with and are excited to find new ways to continue to share their creativity. At a time when everyone is socially distanced, each artist will make their film in their own home using whatever equipment is available, ranging from phones to professional cameras.

Filmmaker Graeme Roger is giving advice on the filming process and the artists  send their completed films to him to edit and upload to Luminate’s website and social media channels.

Anne Gallacher, Director of Luminate, said: “Luminate has seen at first-hand the power of creativity to impact on loneliness and isolation. The effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on our older people is huge, and I sincerely hope that our Luminate@Home programme will in some way brighten the days of older people who find themselves secluded at home.

“I also hope that our social care colleagues – who are working so hard to support residents in care homes across Scotland – find the films a valuable and enjoyable resource to share. I am very grateful to the artists who are collaborating with us, and who have responded with such enthusiasm and imagination to the challenge of creating these films at a distance.”

Scottish Care Chief Executive, Dr Donald Macaskill said: “I am absolutely delighted to support Luminate@Home. The ‘shielding’ which has been necessary to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens in care homes and in the community inevitably means that people are going to feel isolated and shut off from family, friends and their communities.

“Anything which helps to reduce the fear and anxiety of isolation, to create a bridge to the outside world; anything which helps people to remain active and creative is to be hugely welcomed.

“Luminate have immense experience of bringing the best of the creative arts to Scotland’s older population. This venture is evidence not only of their organisational commitment but of the dedication of the individual artists and performers who are taking part.

“We owe them a huge debt of gratitude in helping to keep us all connected, and I hope entertained over the next few challenging and difficult weeks and months.”

Luminate@Home

Luminate, in partnership with Scottish Care, is launching Luminate@Home, a new programme of short online films demonstrating creative activities for you to do wherever you are.

The activities will be presented by professional artists and will feature different arts forms including crafts, poetry, music and dance.

Luminate have developed the films in partnership with Scottish Care, and they are aimed at people living in their own homes, as well as care home staff who are looking for ideas of activities for residents.

We understand that this is a worrying and difficult time for everyone, especially if older individuals are having to spend the next few weeks isolated at home or in a care home, and we hope that you will find the activities enjoyable and engaging to do over the next few weeks.

Films will be posted every Tuesday and Friday at 2pm on the  Luminate website and Facebook page as well as on their Vimeo and YouTube channels.

Once posted, the films will be left online so you can access them at any time.

Enjoy the films and stay safe from all at Luminate and Scottish Care.

Celebrate Older People’s Week

Active Ageing event at Hibernian’s GameChanger Centre, Easter Road

2nd October: 12 noon – 4pm

Hosted by Port of Leith Housing Association

Activities include Body Boosting Bingo (12 noon), tour of Hibs Stadium (1pm), Tea Dance (2pm), stalls and refreshments.

For more information or to book transport, call 0131 553 2559

LUMINATE: community buildings, building communities

doocot listed building

BUILDING on the success of the 2015 Photography Challenge, this year Luminate, Scotland’s Creative Ageing Festival, is joining forces with Stills Centre for Photography on a challenge for older photographers. Taking inspiration from the Festival of Architecture. it invites you to photograph a building that has played an important part in your own life or the life of your community. Continue reading LUMINATE: community buildings, building communities