MUSIC filled the air as children and older people got together for a sing song to mark Dementia Action Week.

Children from the 1st Chippenham Beavers group visited a Music for the Mind group in the town, which is made up of people living with dementia and their carers.

The intergenerational group had spent weeks practising a selection of songs leading up to the event and then came together on the day to share a song. The group even shared their favourite songs form their repertoire with the other group members.

Community services coordinator for Alzheimer’s Support, Pam Ollis, said: “It was lovely to see young and old singing together, and enjoying each other’s company. We will be singing the new songs at our future meetings.”

Music for the Mind is a singing group for people living with dementia and their family carers. It meets fortnightly on Thursday mornings at Sheldon Road Methodist Church.

After singing, the group enjoyed tea and cakes while a number of the Beavers made their promises to join the group and become new members.

Singing teacher Joy Davis led the event and was joined by Beavers leader Sarah Lamphaug.

Dementia Action Week is the annual awareness week carried out by Alzheimer’s Society to encourage people to find out more about the illness. Around 850,000 people are currently living with dementia in the UK.

As well as music for the mind classes, Alzheimers Support carry out Movement classes to encourage people living with dementia to remain active, art groups memory cafes and wildlife clubs.

Memory sheds, inspired by Men in sheds project also provides people with dementia with a chance to meet others of all ages and take part in a community project.