“John enjoys the sessions so much that he asks me almost every day when we are going again. It gives him something to look forward to,” says Shauna, a Westminster resident who regularly attends reminiscence sessions at Lord’s with her husband John. “I have seen a real improvement in his outlook. He has always loved music, so the chance to join in with singing brings so much enthusiasm and enjoyment! I often feel quite emotional seeing him enjoy it so much.”
MCC’s Community team expanded its reminiscence programme in 2023, utilising evidence from Dementia UK which shows that listening to or engaging in music can help people with dementia develop and maintain relationships with others and improve their well-being.
It is estimated that over 74,000 people in London are living with dementia, including over 1,800 in Westminster alone, and after initially inviting local residents to attend sessions at Lord’s, in 2024 MCC decided to take the programme to members of the community that may have issues getting out and about. The Club now delivers frequent music therapy sessions at three care homes and day centres in Westminster.
Music therapy has been shown to improve thinking, feeling, perception, mood and behaviour. It can help people with dementia to express their feelings and ideas, and tell their story, whilst also encouraging social interaction, and reducing isolation and distress. Music can also help a person with dementia to connect with the past by evoking memories, feelings and emotions that they might otherwise find hard to express.
Taking the programme to the local community has more than doubled the amount of people that benefit from the sessions, with over 500 residents taking part to date. Each of the care homes and day centres taking part have said how their service users were “more engaged” after the programme and that the sessions are a valuable weekly resource.
Westminster Dementia Advisor, Maro Sepe, said: “I am proud to work with Lord's because we share the same vision for supporting people living with Dementia. They have been instrumental in my work, providing invaluable support and resources that have significantly enhanced my ability to assist those in need.”
The programme provides support to a range of people at different levels in their journey with dementia, some of whom have gone on to follow up the sessions by taking part in walking cricket at Lord’s or attending a match on one of the dementia friendly match days.
MCC Head of Community and Inclusion, Ricky Reynolds, said: “We are passionate about doing what we can to support the local community, and given the success of the reminiscence sessions at Lord’s, we were very keen to expand the programme to ensure that as many people as possible can take part.
“The feedback we have received both from people taking part in the sessions as well as carers has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to continuing to use Lord’s as a platform to positively impact the lives of people within our local community.”
Speaking on MCC’s reminiscence programme, Alzheimer’s Society Strategic Change Programme Manager Matt Hughes-Short said: "Memories created around music and sport can last a lifetime. It's great to see MCC bringing these sessions to the local community, showing how sports clubs can adapt initiatives to help foster independence and meaningful experiences.
“We're proud to have collaborated with MCC on our Dementia Friendly Sports Clubs and Venues guide which is an essential resource for all clubs and venues wishing to make changes to support people with dementia."