Dementia song released as charity Christmas single

A song written by pupils in Kent will be released as a charity single to raise awareness about dementia and loneliness in older people.

Four pupils from Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School wrote the single titled ‘Raise Our Voices’ to try to tackle issues surrounding the disease and highlight the theme of loneliness which can be a heightened problem over the festive period.

The school has worked with residential care provider The Abbeyfield Kent Society to create the song which asks for people to reach out to older people in their community and features a full choir with piano and a string section throughout.

Elisa Harrod, music teacher at TWGGS said: “The girls loved working on the song; it gave them a fantastic opportunity to reflect upon the lives of older people, particularly at Christmas.”

The girls are hoping to raise awareness for those living with dementia and the work that The Abbeyfield Kent Society, a registered Kent-based charity, does for the older people of Kent.”

The song is now available to listen to online with CDs currently in production. The proceeds from the single will be divided equally between the school and The Abbeyfield Kent Society Who cares? Appeal.

‘Raise Our Voices’ is also dedicated to the school’s music technician Peter Booth who passed away shortly after the song was finished. Tunbridge Wells pupils Emily Camburn, Leah Holm-Mercer, Eleanor Hennebry and Sylvia Villa worked during lunch breaks and after school to write and release the song in time for Christmas.

Abbeyfield Kent Society provides residential and extra care to over 500 people in the South East of England.