Pelsall Hall in final of ‘Music in the Air’ competition

There was ‘music in the air’ for residents and staff at Pelsall Hall when they attended the finals of a national competition aimed at improving the provision of activities in care homes.

NAPA (National Association for Provision of Activities for Older People) hold an annual competition around a particular theme in order to encourage care homes across the country to provide stimulating activities for their residents, with the finals being held at a gala event in London.

This year the theme was "Music in the Air" and the activity co-ordinator at Pelsall Hall, Fiona McCracken, together with the help of the residents, devised a week of music related activities. There was a wide variety of different things to do from joining a community singing group and recording a CD, to taking part in a desert island discs afternoon. There were cultural theme days including Caribbean, Asian and English music, a musical quiz, minibus trips to various shows, musical question and answer tablemats, and lots of other person centred activities.

It was an imaginative programme requiring lots of hard work to bring it to fruition, and the residents and staff were delighted to find out that out of 150 entries they had been chosen as one of the 5 finalists.

The finals were held at a gala evening in September at the State Apartments, Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, the home of the Chelsea Pensioners. Steve Brookes (Home Manager), Joanna Wrona and Ashleigh Anderson Pope (Carers), Eddie Hales (Resident) and Fiona made the long trip down from Walsall to attend the evening. When they arrived and they were greeted by NAPA staff and offered Pimms, champagne and canapes. Together with over 150 invited guests, they were treated to a wonderful recital of songs by the Chelsea Pensioners Choir, which had people reaching for their hankies.

Although Pelsall Hall didn’t win the top award, they did receive some lovely prizes. As well as a box of musical instruments and an HMV gift voucher, the home also received a large wooden raised planter with a variety of seeds and tools. This will enable wheelchair users at the home to put their gardening skills to good use.

In all, it was a wonderful day, and a deserved reward for a great effort.