A POPULAR singing group in Chepstow has received a donation of £1,500 from Chepstow and District Round Table.

The round table group made the donation to Singing For Fun, a group who get together every Wednesday at Chepstow Methodist Church and sing songs old and new to help with memory loss.

Round table chairman Robert Phelps presented the cheque to the group last Wednesday (1st February) and could see how the group had a positive impact.

He said: “Everyone there has been affected by memory loss (such as dementia or Alzheimer’s) either themselves or family members and just being there I could see people with dementia singing and enjoying themselves.

“It’s a great initiative which has been setup to help people who would often withdraw to their homes and avoid going out in public in case they embarrass themselves by forgetting something.”

Approximately 25 people attend every week, meeting at 10.30am. Sessions last until 12pm.

Melanie Hales, manager of Bethany Residential Care Home in Chepstow said: “It doesn’t matter if you forget some of the words when singing, everyone there is forgetting and they all laugh about it.”