Following the success of BBC documentaries, Vicky McClure’s Dementia Choir, which is now operating as a charity, is recruiting new members.

Rehearsals are held fortnightly, mainly on Tuesdays from 10.30am,  at Portland College.

New members will need to have received a diagnosis of a type of dementia, live in Nottinghamshire, have a love for singing, and have a committed carer who can support and attend rehearsals/ performances.

A spokesperson said: “The choir is a very supportive, family-orientated environment and new members will be welcomed into a unique group of people living with dementia, supported by their families, friends, and carers.

If you are interested in joining the choir or you know someone who might, click here to complete an online application form.

For more information on the choir go to https://www.ourdementiachoir.com/

Our Dementia Choir began as part of a documentary created for BBC1 in 2018. It saw actress Vicky McClure set out to discover the extent of music’s power in combating dementia.

Vicky had helped care for her grandmother, who had dementia and died in 2015. She saw the amazing effect music had in calming her down, as well as giving glimpses of her old ‘nana’.

Vicky formed a choir of people, all living with dementia in her hometown of Nottingham, to see whether music could make a measurable difference in their lives in 2018- the Our Dementia Choir.

Joining forces with some of the country’s leading experts, the choir took part in ground-breaking scientific studies to measure their emotional and physical responses to singing over three months of regular sessions.

The choir had such a positive effect that its members have continued to meet since the first show aired and become a charity in its own right.

Under the leadership of Vicky and charity manager Karen Bonser, the crew and volunteers, together with the musical leadership of Mark De-Lisser and Daniela Smith, the choir has continued to meet and sing.

Their performances have included at the NTAs, ITV’s Loose Women, This Morning, Good Morning Britain, Splendour, The West End, and BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing.