FOLK music has brought school children and elderly care home residents together in Saltburn – as they aim to create a hit for the town’s upcoming festival.
In a display of creativity and community spirit, residents of Hazelgrove Court have teamed up with pupils from Badger Hill Academy.
The groups are working together to craft a unique folk song that will be showcased at the upcoming Saltburn Folk Festival, which takes place from August 8 to 10.
Sharon Lewis, activities coordinator at Hazelgrove Court, said: “I love working with our residents on community projects – it gives them such a great sense of involvement.”
The Saltburn Folk Community Songwriting Project is presented by creative engagement programme Borderlands and funded by Arts Council England.
It brings together four professional folk musicians, four youth groups, and four groups of older people to create new folk music reflecting on Redcar and Cleveland’s history, present day, and hopes for the future.
Anna Hughes, one of the musicians involved in the project, visited Hazelgrove Court to engage residents in music activities and gather their ideas for the song.
During a recent workshop, residents learned and sang the chorus, which the children had created in a separate session. The residents then contributed verses that focus on heritage, memories of the past, and hopes for the future.
The project sees participants of all ages working together, with the youngest child being eight years old and the oldest participant, Betty Wood, being 101.
The finished song will be performed by the children of Badger Hill Academy on August 9, with residents from Hazelgrove Court attending to watch and join in.
Musician Anna Hughes from The Saltburn Folk Community Songwriting Project is pictured with resident Joyce Wooffindin.