Barnsley care homes’ Children in Need music video

CARE home residents in Barnsley have created a music video for Children in Need – showcasing the area’s industrial heritage.

Residents and staff from Deangate Care Home, Towngate, Mapplewell, dressed as miners and created a North Gawber colliery coal pit backdrop for their contribution to the video.

They sang along and performed chair aerobics to 1937 classic “The Lambeth Walk” as one of nine care homes across Barnsley that took part.

Relatives of those living at Deangate Care Home also supported the project, including Mark and Lynne Lodge, son and daughter of resident Hilda Lodge, 92, and Susan Tattersall, daughter of Alice Pickering, 89.

They were filmed performing before it was edited together into a video alongside footage from other Barnsley care homes, with “Bring me Sunshine” playing over the images.

The project was organised by the Barnsley Healthcare Federation, Barnsley Older People Physical Activity Alliance (BOPPA), and Love to Move.

Love to Move is a chair-based age and dementia friendly exercise programme, developed by the British Gymnastics Foundation, which has been delivered at Deangate Care Home by Hannah Newton, a health a wellbeing coach at Barnsley Primary Care Network.

Elderly residents spent weeks practising their armchair aerobics, learning the routine, making the coal pit backdrop, and sourcing their costumes before filming began.

The finished music video was sent to the Children in Need production team with the hope it will be included in Friday’s broadcast. The care home is also using the day to fundraise for the charity.

Resident Peter Hardy, 75, who took part in the production, said: “Who doesn’t want to get involved in activities like this? I’m doing this for the children of Barnsley and the UK and I hope it makes a difference to them.”

Joan Giggle, 90, said: “I’m so proud of doing something that will help someone. I couldn’t believe how different I looked. It was so exciting to do something different that will help those in need.”

Frances Smith, 88, said: “All our hard work paid off. It took us a while to learn the routine and source our costumes but it was brilliant and it is for such a wonderful cause.”

Maurice Churchouse, 93, added: “It was so emotional when all of us came together in harmony to produce such a brilliant routine to help raise some money for those Children in Need.”

Hannah, from Love to Move, said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone to produce our Love to Move for Children in Need video.

“By getting so many people involved in our crazy idea, I feel we have brought so much joy and happiness to each resident, as well as reminiscing on times gone by and discussing what memories the residents have from listening to the songs within Love to Move.

“It really has been amazing to see the community of care homes from across Barnsley come together for such an important cause.”

Rachael Addy, activities coordinator at Deangate Care Home, said: “Everyone was so excited to be part of the Barnsley Children in Need video. We’re so grateful to be invited to take part.

“Hannah has been delivering the Love to Move sessions since the start of the year and it’s been fabulous to see the residents use the moves they been learning in a video production.

“The sessions are incredible. The interaction and enjoyment were brilliant for the residents. I would highly recommend it to anyone living with or without dementia. It’s enjoyable for everyone.”