AN ARMED forces charity has entertained visitors to two Sussex care homes as part of a series of nationwide concerts.

Residents of the Shelley Care Home in Worthing and Place Farm House Care Home in Brighton were treated to a sing-along “summertime special” concert earlier this month by charity The Not Forgotten, featuring live music and dancing.

Following social distancing guidelines for care homes, residents clapped their hands, tapped their feet and sang while listening to familiar favourites from the 1960s and 70s, including ABBA, Elvis and the Beatles.

Brigadier James Stopford CBE, CEO of the charity, said: “We’re thrilled to embark on this morale boosting tour, building on the enormous success of last year’s events which had such a positive impact on so many care home residents during the pandemic.

“Music provides such a boost to individuals' emotional wellbeing and over the years we have seen incredibly positive reactions from residents who delight in the entertainment and the connection of interacting, at a safe distance, of course, with our performers.

“One hundred years ago soprano Marta Cunningham founded The Not Forgotten based on the principles of providing entertainment and reaction to those who have worn their nation’s uniform and now suffer, and we are delighted that to this day, a big part of our work continues to bring entertainment to those we support across the UK.”

The tour aims to connect with some of the 1.4 million chronically lonely older people in England, with the charity receiving positive reactions from those who delighted in the entertainment and from interacting with the performers.

Director of the Sussex care homes Andy Brown said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone at The Not Forgotten team who organised the event and performed for our residents.

“They enjoyed the events immensely and it’s great to have live music return to the homes and for the residents to reminisce singing along to the songs.”

The Not Forgotten support serving men and women who are wounded, injured or sick, as well as veterans with a disability, illness or infirmity.

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