People with dementia and their carers have been invited to attend Watford’s first dementia-friendly carol concert.

The concert on December 5 is just the start of a new chapter for the Dementia Friendly Watford Partnership, which aims to make the town more accessible to people with dementia and their carers.

The free event is being hosted by Home Instead Senior Care and Herts Musical Memories, a charity which runs therapeutic singing sessions to give people living with dementia the chance to reconnect to the past though music.

The choir from Little Green Primary School will sing carols, and the concert will be followed by tea, coffee and mince pies.

Kerrie Marks, strategic project manager for the Dementia Friendly Watford Group, said: “Events like these are really important because they ensure people with dementia have the opportunity to socialise, connect with their community and have fun. Making the town better for people living with dementia is important because we want to be a town where everyone can thrive and live fulfilling lives. I’d like to thank Home Instead Senior Care, Herts Musical Memories and St Mary’s Church for their support in making this happen. We want to do all we can to make Watford a more dementia-friendly town.”

Alexis Neighbour, director of Home Instead, said: “Carols at Christmas are very traditional and we know that the music and the words, even for those individuals living with a later stage dementia, can spark a memory. We would urge as many people as possible to come along with families, friends and carers for what will be a joyful occasion.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are over 1000 people living in Watford with dementia, with the number rising every year, so events of this sort gives these people the chance to get out of the house and engage in a fun activity which could also benefit their memories.

The event will take place at St Mary’s Church from 10.30am to 12.30pm.