A WELSH charity bringing the joy of singing to people living with dementia and those who support them hopes to be crowned National Lottery Project of the Year.

Forget-me-not Chorus, which started in Penarth, has reached the public voting stage in this year’s National Lottery Awards, which celebrate the people and projects who do positive things with help from National Lottery funding.

There are 17 shortlisted finalists, out of more than 1,300 organisations, from across the UK which will compete in a four-week public vote to be named the National Lottery Project of the Year.

Winners will receive a £5,000 cash prize for their project and a National Lottery Awards trophy.

Since 2011, Forget-me-not Chorus has run weekly singing sessions for people with dementia and those who support them from Wales and the UK.

Penarth Times:

Through five community choirs, 20 ‘Singing Strong’ care home choirs, a library of free pre-recorded singing sessions, and a hospital service - the team of musicians reach more than 1,000 people a week. 

Forget-me-not Chorus co-founder and artistic director, Kate Woolveridge, said: “We’re so excited to be a finalist in the 2022 National Lottery Awards Project of the Year category.  

"Forget-me-not Chorus is about bringing people together to create a singing community that celebrates the present, the here and now, creating new memories.

"We believe passionately in the power and joy of song to make a real difference.

"Everyone’s dementia journey is unique, but we are united as we sing together."

Penarth Times:

Jonathan Tuchner, from the National Lottery, added: “Forget-me-not Chorus are doing some incredible work throughout Wales, and they thoroughly deserve to be in the finals of the National Lottery Awards Project of the Year 2022.

"With your support, they could be a winner.”

Voting will run from 9am on September 7 until 5pm on October 7.

People can vote online at lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/awards or vote for Forget-me-not- Chorus by using the Twitter hashtag #NLAForgetMeNot