Bringing a musical moment to communities with a song and a smile.

Used to bringing creative workshops to older people to help reduce loneliness and improve wellbeing with our HenPower Project, we're offering a new service for those living in supported housing schemes in Gateshead.

Working with professional artists, our team is taking bookings for people and care homes wanting to get their street singing on the doorstep.

Jos Forester-Melville, our HenPower Programme Lead, has been delivering food to hensioners living at Wood Green, who would usually take part in weekly creative activities with children from the nearby school.

She said: “With many finding themselves at home, with days seeming longer in lockdown we’re reaching out to the communities we support to help where we can. We understand the importance of connection and creativity is a great way to stay close.

“We know how detrimental loneliness can be, so keeping connected in a safe way, we will deliver their essentials with a smile and song!”

Margaret Ingram lives at Wood Green in Gateshead where they’ve been receiving the deliveries. She said: “It’s been absolutely marvellous to know they are coming and to keep the outside coming in, if you can do it in a safe way, why not? When social distancing started our warden who does so much for us was redeployed and this lost feeling crept in. We’d all been busy before this with the hens and activities. We were looking for something to help and Jos came up trumps."

“It can be incredibly lonely being in a bungalow on your own, and people who don’t normally come out have been on their doorstep and cheered up by the singing.”

The initiative will run at three schemes run by The Gateshead Housing Company (TGHC) including McErlane Square and Mulgrave Villas.

Andrew Yates is Older Person’s Housing Manager at TGHC, where they’re looking at ways to support people’s wellbeing during Covid-19.

He said: “Equal Arts has always provided excellent support and a creative outlet for residents and they have been fundamental in helping us to tackle social isolation in our sheltered schemes. Their current efforts to support residents with shopping supplies is lovely to see as it brings the added bonus of music to cheer our residents in self-isolation”

To help keep people self-isolating connected through creativity Equal Arts has also developed its Create at Home packs. Available for delivery at £8 per monthly subscription, they provide weekly activities and challenges by artists for people to take part in.

To book a Singing Hinnies visit or to find out more about receiving the charity’s Create at Home packs ring 0191 261 1619 or email information@equalarts.org.uk