For 15 years, Forget-me-not Chorus has been proving that music can do far more than entertain. Through the simple act of singing together, the charity has created a welcoming community for people living with dementia and those who support them, where friendship, confidence and connection take centre stage.

Originally launched as a pilot project in partnership with Welsh National Opera and the Vale of Glamorgan Alzheimer’s Society, Forget-me-not Chorus now runs seven free community choirs, including one here in Penarth.

At every session, dementia takes a back seat. There is no pressure to perform, no auditions and no expectation to sing perfectly. Instead, participants learn songs together by ear, ensuring everyone takes part equally, regardless of ability. The result is an atmosphere filled with laughter, conversation and shared achievement.

The impact extends well beyond the music itself. Singing together can boost confidence, stimulate memories and reduce the isolation so often experienced by people living with dementia and their families. Just as importantly, it challenges wider perceptions by showing creativity, warmth and humanity before diagnosis.

One chorister perfectly summed up the experience, describing the sessions as a “spa for the soul”. That sense of release is something the charity witnesses week after week, as people leave behind the challenges of everyday life and simply enjoy being together through music.

Forget-me-not Chorus welcomes anyone living with or alongside dementia to experience a session. The Penarth choir meets every Thursday from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Elfed Avenue United Church, offering a relaxed evening of singing, conversation, tea and cake. Sometimes, the most powerful voice isn’t a solo performance, but a room full of people discovering that every voice matters.