A grant of £4750 from Kent Community Foundation will allow charity Connaught Opera to stage a series of concerts for older people across Kent
Charity Connaught Opera will be entertaining hundreds of older people across the county between 20 August and 20 October with a series of ten concerts funded by The Brook Trust Fund for Kent, facilitated by Kent Community Foundation.
The audiences from ten care homes across Kent and Medway will be treated to a programme including light opera, show songs and nostalgic music from soprano Maria Arakie and baritone Glen Wilson, accompanied by a pianist.
Maria Arakie, Chair, Connaught Opera, said, “At the start of the pandemic Connaught Opera was awarded funding to perform concerts in care homes across Kent and Medway. We are so grateful to The Brook Trust Fund for Kent and Kent Community Foundation for their patience and understanding whilst we all held our breath during the worst of the COVID crisis, hoping for the best outcome. As we cautiously emerge and care homes can open their doors once more to live entertainment, we have been able to place concerts with ten homes, across Kent. We cannot wait to be able to deliver these concerts and to make new friendships with our audiences across Kent.”
Josephine McCartney, Chief Executive, Kent Community Foundation, said “Research shows us that music improves moods, brings back older happy memories, encourages socialisation, and promotes overall mental and physical health. The concerts will entertain a lot of older people across the county and the Brook Trust Fund for Kent and Kent Community Foundation were delighted to support this initiative.”
To contact Kent Community Foundation call, 01303 814500 or visit www.kentcf.org.uk
Notes to Editors
Concert dates –
20 August – Ashminster House – Ashford
31 August – Emerson Grange – Hextable
1 September – Harbledown Lodge – Canterbury
3 September – Age UK, MacKenney Centre – Gillingham
7 September – Care UK, Invicta Court – Maidstone
10 September – Tonbridge House Care Home – Tonbridge
10 September – Lavender Fields – Sevenoaks
27 September – Sunrise of Frognal House – Sidcup
13 October – Maples Care Home – Bexleyheath
20 October – Halliwell Care Home – Tunbridge Wells
About Connaught Opera
Connaught Opera provide entertainment for older people in venues including homes, hospitals, hospices, day care centres, sheltered housing and community-based clubs for elders across Kent and greater London.
About Kent Community Foundation
Grant-maker Kent Community Foundation has been finding, funding, and supporting some of the smallest voluntary organisations in the county for 20 years. In this time, it has distributed over £45 million to support thousands of small charities and deserving causes where a modest sum of money can make a significant impact.
They are part of a UK wide accredited network of forty-seven Community Foundations who are committed to improving the lives of local people and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, isolated, and disadvantaged by matching those who want to help, with those who need the help.
Responsible for more than 80 philanthropic funds, Kent Community Foundation is unrivalled in its knowledge of local causes and assists individuals, families, and businesses, who want to help, to establish and administer their own charitable funds.
