Wiltshire Music Centre is the lead partner for Celebrating Age Wiltshire (CAW), a county-wide project delivering culture and heritage events and activity in community settings to support the wellbeing of vulnerable older people.

Participants include those who are socially isolated or vulnerable due to dementia, reduced mobility, ill health or caring responsibilities, and those who are particularly impacted through the current Covid-19 circumstances.

CAW is currently working across 10 local areas across the county: Corsham, Royal Wootton Bassett, Calne, Trowbridge, Amesbury and Salisbury, Warminster, Chippenham, Melksham and South West Wiltshire.

In each area, CAW works with arts and community organisations to deliver accessible, high-quality arts and heritage activity through four core strands of activity:

  • Online concerts and performances released monthly, which can be viewed here
  • Outdoor concerts on doorsteps and in front gardens
  • 1:1 Creative Conversations for those who are isolated at home
  • Wiltshire Postcards postal project
Well done for this wonderful initiative. A gentle glow is now perfusing Monkton and Brixton Deverills.
Retired GP after outdoor concerts

If you would like to find out more please contact CAW Creative Producer, Rebecca Seymour at rebecca.seymour@wiltshiremusic.org.uk or by calling 07955 249288.

Support Celebrating Age Wiltshire

Get Involved

We are looking for volunteers who could provide telephone support for socially isolated older people, through meaningful person-centred conversations. You'll be supported through training with CAW artists and we are asking for 1 hour, once per fortnight across a 10-week period. Find out more about what's involved and how to apply below. If you are interested please contact Rebecca Seymour on 07955 249288, or email rebecca.seymour@wiltshiremusic.org.uk

Celebrating Age Wiltshire Phase 1 Trailer

Celebrating Age Wiltshire

I am struggling today but you have helped to get me "into the day". Thank you.
Celebrating Age Event Participant

Background

CAW Phase 1 (2017 – 2020) was supported through funding from the Arts Council, Baring Foundation and Wiltshire Council Area Boards’ Health and Wellbeing Project Grants. During this period, the project attracted over 4,000 engagements in 140 specially-curated, free-to-attend monthly events: from concerts in care homes to dance workshops in village halls, reading groups in libraries and reminiscence events in sheltered housing residents’ lounges.

We are now in Phase 2 (2020 – 2025) of the Celebrating Age Wiltshire project, made possible through funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, Wiltshire Community Foundation, Goldsmiths Company and support from 10 Wiltshire Council Area Boards, Corsham Town Council and Chippenham Borough Lands.

We believe in the power of culture and heritage to bring people together and transform people’s lives – Celebrating Age Wiltshire is evidence of just how important and effective this is for older people.
James Slater - Artistic Director, Wiltshire Music Centre

Read the CAW Phase 1 latest evaluation report:

Celebrating Age Concerts

Enjoy all of Celebrating Age's Recorded Concerts

Celebrating Age Wiltshire

I really enjoyed this and enjoyed the music, singing along with every song bar one. Her (Frankie’s) breathing is so good just to be able to sing one song after another! The concert is perfect for my age.
CAW Audience Member, May 2020
Thank you for the concert. I loved it and have watched several times. Thanks again to you and the team. Hope it's not too long till we meet in person.
Trowbridge participant, May 2020

Celebrating Age Images