‘Keep in Touch’ Fundraiser for Alzheimer’s UK

The Manor House care home in Barnard Castle, St Mary’s Parish Church and Barnard Castle School have been working together on a music and art event to raise funds for dementia research charity Alzheimer’s UK.

It includes an exhibition of artwork at St Mary’s Church on Newgate, Barnard Castle, created by residents at The Manor House and students from Barnard Castle School inspired by communication from the 1940s to the present day. The exhibition runs until Thursday 3 May.

Alongside the exhibition there is a ‘mini masterpieces’ silent auction with original artwork donated by artists and designers based in the North East.

On Wednesday 25 April from 2.30 to 3.30pm St Mary’s Community Choir are performing at St Mary’s for residents of elderly care homes in Barnard Castle followed by afternoon tea, with catering by The Manor House.

The exhibition preview took place on Friday 20 April and guests included the Mayor of Barnard Castle Councillor Mrs Sandra Moorhouse and Consort Mr Ian Moorhouse. A group of singers and a flautist from Barnard Castle School gave performances including well-loved songs such as Berkeley Square, Love Walked In and I Could Have Danced All Night.

St Mary’s Community Band held a music workshop for residents at The Manor House on Saturday 21 April.

Catherine Howard, lifestyle coordinator at The Manor House, who organised Keep in Touch said: “We’ve had great community support to bring the event together. St Mary’s Church has given us exhibition and event space, Barnard Castle School catered for the preview evening and Morrisons’ supermarket supplied the drinks.

“All the funds raised from the event will be going to Alzheimer’s UK, so we hope people will really get behind it, enjoy the music and artworks and bid for their favourite ‘mini masterpiece’.”

Reverend Canon Alec Harding of St Mary’s Church said: “It’s great for the parish church to be able to host and support an event that is pulling people of all ages together. We have so much that we can learn from one another and art, music and hospitality provide a super platform for relationships to grow and flourish across the generations.”

 Headmaster of Barnard Castle School Tony Jackson said: “We are delighted to be assisting in such a worthwhile event. We jumped at the chance to be involved, and it was serendipitous that our school's chosen charity for this year is Alzheimer's UK. It has been wonderful that some of our pupils have had the opportunity to learn some of the old and great tunes of the first half of the 20th Century as part of their participation. Finally, it is humbling to see our town's older residents mixing with some of its youngest, and the more opportunities for generational mixing the better.”

Entry to the exhibition is free, please check with St Mary's Church (01833 637018) before travelling as it will not be possible to view the exhibition during services.

There is a charge for the care home afternoon tea on 25 April, all funds raised will be going to Alzheimer’s UK, please contact Catherine Howard at The Manor House for more information and to book tables.