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“I just wanted to give a BIG thank you for your recent visits to our elderly frail tenants who live at Housing with Care schemes in Southwold Road and Albion Road.

Due to most of the local Elderly Day Centres closing down  many of our tenants are not able to get out of the scheme. ( sadly many of our tenants have little or no family support) so we do what we can to provide stimulation and activities at the schemes for them. Most of the time this is by playing bingo, having coffee mornings, doing simple craft activities etc.

However now and again we get the chance for someone REALLY special to come and visit – and BOY  is there a difference in the tenants during and after the show..

When you came and visited we had a tenant come that had NEVER attended anything before ( they heard the music and decided to come and see what was happening in the lounge- but have never been interested in anything before ) . We had tenants tapping their feet and singing along, and I even noticed that some of the tenants were dressed for the occasion – as in wearing their best outfits.

They really loved your show, were amazed at your wonderful outfits ( you had as many costume changes as you did at Tower of London – our tenants got EXACTLY the same show) and finally it was wonderful how you went round to each and every tenants and sang, and at the end said goodbye to each of them.

Even when you are long gone – the tenants are still sitting in the lounge, they have had a great time and do not feel the need to rush back to their empty flats Your songs are well chosen, the performance spectacular – thank you .

Thanks to Glen and Nick Too.    ” 

Yvette Harte,Social Inclusion Co-ordinator, London Older People Supported Housing

” We are seeing services for older people being cut back year by year leaving our very high numbers of older people in Roehampton socially isolated. This leaves the voluntary sector to support very old, frail and isolated people in our community.

The Connaught Opera provides a wonderful transport of delight through its concerts and leaves everyone in good spirits. It is a great support in what we try to achieve through the 60Plus Cafe. We very much appreciate their support through your funding. “

I would like to say a massive thank you to the Connaught Opera for performing at The Sunflower café on Saturday. From the beautiful voices, amazing keyboard and the glamourous outfits, everything was perfection.

The carers, people with dementia and staff cannot stop talking about the performance. With once person with dementia saying, it was the best show he had ever seen.

(Wandsworth Carers Centre).

” Please accept our best wishes for the continued successful and positive difference that your organisation makes to local communities.

The event managed to improve the social inclusion of the residents and local community with several attendees’, who are classified as “Socially isolated” (less than 4 interactions per week) by the housing team, undertaking befriendment activities as a direct result of their participation.

The majority of the audience in the weeks after the event commented heavily on how certain music themes of the event related to historical themes or events in their personal lives. This was most notable in residents who have been medically diagnosed with different levels of dementia.

Carers were active audience members of the event. (The group’s) flexible, passionate and professional approach to the event was a credit and enhanced the overall experience that the audience received. “

” One of the main functions of the Hub is to enable older people – with different backgrounds, different levels of managing in later life, and needs to engage in a shared event, and this was certainly one of the best we have had at 60 Penfold Street. It is so important to break down barriers between people who have got dementia and who live in a residential setting – and people in the wider community.

Our participants love the concerts from Connaught Opera – they value the really high degree of commitment from the artists and the quality of the performance. Being able to attend such an event in their local community is as important as many would find it difficult to travel. “

Our residents and staff were very happy with the performance of your team, some residents said it was just like concerts they attended in the past and would like for you to hold  regular Concerts here.

• The costume changes were very much enjoyed, by the lady residents, however one man in particular look besotted/ mesmerised, staring at you just the same as he looks at his wife.
• The way you interacted with our residents was fantastic, you moved around the room making sure that all present were included in the performance, singing and movements included. it was  as though you were being serenaded by our residents and our residents serenaded by you..
• Our residents were even given the opportunity to choose a song of their choice which you and the gentleman with you, sang together with our residents..
• Even after the Concert finished and you were out of the room changing into your own clothing to leave, you heard two of our residents singing  and you came back into our activity room and sang a duet with each of them in turn.
• One of our residents when playing the organ, your organist/pianist come back after changing, amazed with what he was hearing, interacted with our resident on the organ.

If there is a possibility that Carlton Dene were able to have another Concert, we would welcome your team with open arms.

Carry on the good work and hope very much to see you in the near future.

” The artistes ensured that all clients felt individually valued by holding hands with service users and singing to them directly, this was especially meaningful when singing to a client with severe visual impairment and anxiety who responds very well to music. All service users that attended stated how much they enjoyed the concert “

” The service users really enjoyed the entertainment …they explained it was their type of music..They confirmed the music was beautiful “

” Fantastic. Some people who never smile had huge grins on their faces “

” The concert was engaging and entertaining. I look forward to having the group back to perform “

” …The costumes and singing were amazing. This free concert was well appreciated by the residents in Housing with Care, and staff, as it supports our work to reduce social isolation and improve well being “

“Thank you so much for your beautiful performance today for our elders. The crowd may have been small but the music thrilled through the building and delighted us all. One gentleman, who had just happened along, said it had been wonderful and asked when you would be back; when we told him it was a one-off performance at this centre he said ‘So, I just got lucky? I’m so happy, I’ve had a really nice time. It was a real pleasure to have you here” – Holloway Neighbourhood Group

“I just wanted to take the time to say a huge thank you for coming over a couple of weeks ago, it was a truly fantastic show and our members are still raving about it! I have enclosed a couple of pictures taken on the day, we do have a few more but I believe that our lovely communications team are in the process of editing etc. Please do keep us up to date on any other community base projects/ events you may have coming, it would be great to work with you again.” –Amanda Bates Centre & Programme Manager Claremont Project