Our Impact

Finding her voice

When Katy (age 4) first joined our Tuesday sessions, she barely spoke.

Katy had delayed speech and was receiving support from a speech therapist. Nursery staff had noticed that she often struggled to communicate with others and lacked confidence in group situations. During his first two Brighter Together sessions, she stayed very quiet and rarely interacted with either the older adults or the other children.

But over the following weeks, something began to change.

The nursery staff noticed that Katy seemed far more relaxed in the calm and welcoming environment of the sessions. The older adults gave her time and space to communicate at her own pace, listening patiently and responding warmly whenever she joined in. Through singing songs and sharing activities with the older adults each week, Katy began joining conversations more and more. Soon, she was chatting about her holidays, favourite toys and proudly sharing stories from home.

Staff saw a clear difference not only during the sessions themselves, but back at nursery too. Katy became more willing to speak in group activities, more confident interacting with other children and more comfortable expressing herself with adults. For everyone involved, it was wonderful to watch her find her voice.

Names and images have been changed to respect people’s privacy.

Moments that matter

Living with dementia means that June initially experienced high levels of anxiety and disorientation when she first joined the Brighter Together sessions. But the moment the children arrive, June’s face glows with happiness. She greets them with smiles and praise, instantly showing that her ability to connect and share joy remains beautifully intact.

One of the most powerful moments comes during singing with the children. Although June needs support with many everyday tasks, she sings every word perfectly and joins in the actions. In these moments, music seems to gently bypass cognitive barriers, unlocking memories that light up her life.

Perhaps the most moving evidence of the sessions’ impact came from June’s son.

Mum’s face lit up when I mentioned the get together… 3 hours later. She genuinely recalled something of it and felt something very positive. Normally Mum doesn’t recall what she did earlier that day… on Monday, it was different.

For June and her family, these moments matter. Brighter Together helps create meaningful emotional connections and joy that stay with participants long after the sessions end.

Names and images have been changed to respect people’s privacy.

From withdrawl to connection

When Doreen (aged 83) first moved into the home, she was withdrawn and spent most of her time alone in her room, showing signs of depression. After she joined the Brighter Together sessions, the change was immediate. Doreen began anticipating the children’s visits, often asking when the next visit would be. She now gets up early so she can be ready on the mornings the children come.

The impact of the programme for Doreen extends beyond these sessions. Brighter Together encouraged her to take a more active part in the life of the care home, and she now joins in other activities and is more sociable.

Names and images have been changed to respect people’s privacy.