Celebrating Social Care: music and celebrations
06 Apr 2026
3 min read
As we dedicate April to #CelebratingSocialCare, we’ve been gathering good news stories from across the sector. Read our latest update.
In our latest article we share good news stories from across social care, including a special birthday celebration, an inspirational music band and a community garden party.
The Outsiders music band
The Outsiders are a band of adults with learning disabilities and autism which
started 15 years ago.
The band got off the ground with help with some funding from NIACE, an
educational fund which wanted to show how people can progress when involved in
creativity.
At the start of the project 10 people came together who had not met each other
before and had not had the opportunity to be involved in music before, however
there was a shared love of music. The band rehearsed one day a week and after three months performed their first gigs at The Carriageworks and Seven Arts Centre
in Leeds.
Following on from the initial funding, the band looked at how they could continue to finance the group, and this is when they realised they could access a Direct
Payment to keep their band running.
The band members pool their Direct Payment into one budget which is held by
Imagineer. This budget is used to cover the usual costs a band have, such as
rehearsal room hire, session worker costs, storage costs, insurance, travel for gigs
and performances, website management and equipment.
Since starting The Outsiders the band members have been able to learn to sing, as well as play the drums, keyboard and bass guitar. They can set up the rehearsal space, and get the drum kit, mics and PA ready.
They have learnt to play over 15 cover songs, written three of their own songs, recorded two albums in a recording studio, designed their own logo and organised merchandise to sell online and at gigs. They’ve played numerous gigs, including weddings, conferences, and festivals. They’ve also completed a tour of England playing at some of the best music venues, including the Liverpool Philharmonic and the Sage in Gateshead.
The band have also developed confidence in getting around on their
own. They earn an income from gigs and have used this to upgrade equipment and access tuition. They’re confident to self-advocate, have a strong circle of connections through the people they’ve met along the way, and have many more aspirations for the future.
Some of the band members shared their experience, saying:
We got to have our own album and merchandise and doing a UK tour, improving
our connections through meeting other bands in other cities.
Aarron Cammiss
I am a great singer and I get to organise and I now want to learn playing drums.
Andrew
We have confidence now, play a lot of difference instruments and we switch
around, starting to learn to play keyboard and learning more skills.
Lorraine Brown
The Outsiders have helped me develop in confidence and to come out of my shell.
Sarah Bowes
The Outsiders can help me overcome my nerves.
Paul Dearden who has just rejoined the band
You can keep up with their events on Facebook. If you need a band to play for an event you can get touch with the band manager
aarron@imagineer.org.uk.
A 91st birthday celebration
Audrey, known fondly as Jingy (her childhood nickname), recently celebrated her 91st birthday at Gibraltar Nursing Home. To mark the occasion, the team made a special cake for her.
House Lead Dani decorated the cake with flowers, greenery and finished it off with a small dog figurine crafted from icing. Jingy has always had a great love for animals, dogs especially, which remains central to her identity today.
Jingy lives with small vessel disease and is on a cognitive journey. At times, this can affect how she interprets the world around her. Her sense of reality can feel fluid, and she can experience periods of confusion. Gibraltar Nursing Home. explains that when someone is on a cognitive journey, they may not always be able to verbalise what they need to feel safe or what is important to them. By taking time to understand someone’s life history, values, relationships and the experiences that have shaped them, care can be built around who they are, rather than focusing only on a diagnosis and what they may be experiencing.
Although cognitive conditions may cause memory changes and shifts in perception, there are often routines, traits and personal preferences that stay with us, so deeply ingrained that they do not fade. Jingy’s story shows how person-centred care can help someone feel seen, supported, and understood for who they are and what matters most to them.
Free community garden party
The residents and care team at Bernard Sunley care home in Woking are blossoming with excitement as they finalise the plans for the care home’s free Community Springtime Garden Party and, the first BBQ of the year.
Andy Cumper, the Registered Manager at Bernard Sunley says:
We consistently keep our promise to the residents that we are dedicated to keeping them involved with, and part of, the local community as they all really enjoy our wide range of community events which take place throughout the year, we thought it would be a lovely idea to host a Springtime Garden Party and have our first BBQ of the season.
Monika Ahmed, Activity Coordinator, said:
The traditional British Springtime Garden Party is a time-honoured custom which is supposed to mark the return of the warmer weather. The residents adore not only all our many community parties, but also the tasty BBQs we hold throughout the summer months. So, our Springtime Garden Party and BBQ is a great way to start a spring and summer full of happiness, laughter, conversations, community engagement and, of course, enjoying delicious BBQ dishes.
The party will take place on Thursday 16 April from 12:30-4pm. It will be held in the home's pretty and welcoming gardens and will have a relaxed atmosphere with a nostalgic ambience.
They would love to see as many people as possible on Thursday 16 April. To book your spaces at their first 2026 garden party, call 01483 764300 and a member of the care team will be there to help and add you on the event guest list.
Print this page