Core Clapton’s Social Singing is for people of all ages with a special focus on the social inclusion of older people aged 55 and over that might be experiencing social isolation.

The group meets once a week and is an opportunity to meet, sing and socialise with new friends.

Jean, a participant who is born and bred in Hackney, explains how she has benefited from attending social singing.

“I’m so happy because Core Clapton are in the building now and it’s open to all local people. It’s lovely there and really near to me. We were there
today and we had a nice lunch together.

I was born in Homerton and I live in Upper Clapton. I loved singing when I was young. I was in a choir before, and enjoyed it. Then I heard about the social singing earlier this year.

About a dozen of us go. It’s mainly women, various ages and some men too. It’s a nice group of people. A friend of mine also goes.

They’re a Buddhist like me. I became a Buddhist in the 1980s when I realised that they believed a lot of things that I used to believe.

I now go every Friday. Singing is on a Friday from 11 and then we finish off with tea and biscuits and we have a chat. We do a variety of songs, ones from other countries, protest songs and popular songs.

Lizzie runs the group. She’s lovely and she keeps us going.

Recently we performed at a wellbeing event at Lower Clapton Road Surgery. It was our first gig!”