Volunteers with Songs on Wheels were awarded Gold at the Merton Civic Pride Volunteer Awards.
Songs on Wheels is a group of friends, mainly retired people, some well into their mid-eighties themselves. Since January 2014 they have been travelling around the London Borough of Merton to care homes, day centres and clubs for older people. Some of the retired people they reach may have difficulties with communication skills, but are lifted through the power of song.
The volunteers give their time up on a weekly basis through singing, bringing joy to hundreds of retired people across Merton, but it doesn’t stop there. The main organiser, Libby Asher was previously a Volunteer Home Tutor and the group have now held two fundraising concerts (in 2019 and in 2023) for LET, where they raised over £4,800 for the charity.
Prior to the second concert, Songs on Wheels visited the Ukrainian English class and sang songs and the Ukrainian National Anthem with the learners. Ukrainian learners were then invited to sing this with them at their fundraising concert which culminated in an incredibly moving performance. These volunteers from Songs on Wheels are definitely unsung heroes who reach out to the Merton community in the most unique and special way.