Greigarious Community Arts & Singing (GCAS) includes the Clydeside Singers and the Vibes. The group provides music therapy and entertainment, while singing for fun, reaching a wide range of vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and adults.
The Clydeside Singers (CS) are aged fifty and over and enjoy singing for others while gaining friendship and social interaction, minimising isolation. Many within the group are retired due to age or ill health with some facing issues, such as physical and mental health concerns. The CS are not a choir, as there is no audition the aim is to sing for fun and everyone is welcome. The CS entertain through acoustic music and backing tracks, with music being led by the venue and singers, which are both male and female. The work undertaken includes singing / entertaining for people who have
- Dementia
- Mental health concerns
- Elderly frail
- Palliative care
- Veterans establishments
- Nursing homes
- Sheltered housing complexes
- HMP Gateside
- School fetes
- Community events
The Vibes (V) singers/entertainers dress up as various Characters, as part of GCAS Kids Entertainment, singing in
- Children’s wards
- School fetes
- Community events
The Vibes are aged from twelve years onwards and within the group there are people with additional needs and also children who are looked after and accommodated by the Local Authority. With support and encouragement these young people socialise and fully participate, playing an important role within the group and their community.
The CS and the V also sing and entertain together, especially at school fetes and community events. The groups performed at 147 venues between January 17 and March 18 across Inverclyde and further afield. The venues we entertain at care for some of our most vulnerable members of our community and the difference the group makes is clear to see on the people’s faces, their reaction and verbal and written feedback.
Inverclyde is one of the most impoverished areas in Scotland, that’s why it’s so important to be able to involve, entertain and promote our local community and wider communities. The work of the charity brings invaluable benefits to our most vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and adults, both within and out with the group.
Being a part of the CS and V helps to minimise loneliness and isolation and enables singers to develop their confidence and self-esteem. The group provides an opportunity for individuals to grow and develop new and existing skills, while sharing this with others. The group enables individuals to have social interaction, while providing support and encouragement for each other, helping to promote a feeling of togetherness. This sense of friendship helps lift mood and enables individuals to be more mentally and physically active, helping to promote mental and physical wellbeing.
In turn when the singers entertain they support vulnerable members of our community, including people who are experiencing dementia, including alcohol related brain damage and mental health issues. The group also support frail elderly people, enhancing their social physical and mental health wellbeing. Community events including school fetes, charity fundraisers and family activity days organised for vulnerable and impoverished families within our local community.
GCAS currently entertain for a wide range of organisations, who in general make a donation towards GCAS running costs but there are many organisations that are not in a position to do this. A donation to support the charity would enable GCAS to continue and increase the work undertaken with these organisations, such as Hospices, Hospitals and HMP Gateside, promoting opportunity and inclusion. There would be a further opportunity to widen the provision of entertainment to other services who would benefit from the charity but are unable to give a donation. This would include nursery’s, children’s homes, schools and public performances within the local community. Music Therapy whilst singing for fun, we love it.
SCIO No: SC043756
