Our Dementia Choir carers treated and pampered for the day at Forest Town salon

Our Dementia Choir, as seen on BBC’s Our Dementia Choir with Vicky McClure, has become a national sensation – performing at the Splendour Festival in 2022 and releasing a single ‘What’s Your Story?’ recorded at Abbey Road studios.

Their experiences demonstrate the power of music to improve the lives and wellbeing of people with dementia.

The choir is rapidly expanding and evolving. The latest TV documentary series was aired back in October and it is also now a charity, managed by Karen Bonser – whose husband Mick is a dementia sufferer and active choir member from Blidworth.

As a carer herself, Karen knows how difficult a job it can be sometimes. So now it is the carers’ turn to be cared for, with a series of pamper days designed to help them unwind.

She said: “We’ve organised some pamper days for our carers over the next few weeks just before Christmas to give them a little bit of a treat.

“It’s important we look after the carers as well as the choir. It really is a tough journey for carers looking after their loved ones that are living with dementia.”

The pamper days are taking place at the Unique salon in Forest Town throughout December, where the carers can undergo beauty and spa treatments to relax.

As the charity manager, Karen has been working closely with Line of Duty star Vicky to ensure the carers are well looked-after.

Karen said: “Between Vicky and myself, we decided we wanted to treat the carers to a lovely day where they could have some respite, be pampered a little bit.

“And with the support of Tweezer Man UK, who have funded this project, and Unique and HeavenlyBeautie, we’ve been able to put on this project which we will continue to run hopefully for many more future events.

“It’s important we actually look after our carers, because if the carers can’t look after the choir, then we’d have no choir.

“I’m grateful for everybody joining in on this project.”