Older people in east London to benefit from ‘joy of singing’
Hundreds of older people across six east London boroughs will benefit from the joy of singing – thanks to new funding for a performing arts charity.
- Published: 8 August 2025
Shapeshifter Productions will run its ‘Smiling Sessions’ in 30 independent living and extra care schemes in Hackney, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Redbridge and Waltham Forest.
The sessions see older people join in with popular hits from the 40s to the 80s, led by professional musicians including Alison Jones, the charity’s founder and artistic director.
Over 450 older people are expected to benefit from the scheme, supported through a £98,970, five-year grant from City Bridge Foundation – London’s biggest independent charity funder.
Paul Martinelli, City Bridge Foundation chair, said; “Singing as part of a group has well known benefits to physical and mental health – particularly for isolated and vulnerable people.
“With our funding, The Smiling Sessions will enable older people across East London to benefit from the joy of singing, to boost their health and to build connections with their neighbours.”
The Smiling Sessions typically run over six 90-minute sessions, which often have a profound effect on the lives of those taking part, according to its founder.
Alison Jones, Shapeshifter founder and artistic director, said: “We work with people who, although they are neighbours, often don’t speak to each other or know each other’s names.
“By the third or fourth session there’s a huge change in people as they feel they can trust us and begin to relax with us and each other. We see a big improvement in their general happiness and it gives them something to look forward to.
“Having the City Bridge Foundation funding for five years is huge for us. It’s a big weight off our minds and will make our life so much easier.”
The grant is one of over 400, totalling over £55 million, awarded since October, when City Bridge Foundation closed its rolling grants programme to new applications for a year, amid unprecedented demand and ahead of the launch of its new funding policy, Standing with Londoners.
The new 10-year policy positions the foundation as a social justice funder, with a sharper focus on tackling the root causes of inequality. The first of four new funding programmes under the new policy, Access to Justice, will open for applications in the autumn.
More information on Standing with Londoners is at https://www.citybridgefoundation.org.uk/standing-with-londoners
More information about The Smiling Sessions is available at www.shapeshifter-productions.com
Top 10 hits at Smiling Sessions
Que Sera Sera
I Can’t Help Falling In Love (With You)
Delilah
Twist & Shout
Pretty Woman
Mama Mia
Country Road
My Boy Lollipop
Those Were the Days
Moon River