On March 8th the song A New Beginning, written, composed and recorded by Jewish Care’s Sam Beckman Choir was released on all streaming platforms.
From a studio-recorded single to the NAPA national award and a community choir competition judged by Gareth Malone OBE, Jewish Care’s community dementia services highlight the ways that creativity and connection have the potential to transform support for people living with dementia.
Members of Jewish Care’s Sam Beckman Centre for people living with dementia won the Most Promising Act Award at the Care Sectors Got Talent Awards in 2024. Now with their new single, they are showing us how music and song have the power to trigger memory, stimulate the brain, connect us with others and reduce loneliness and isolation.
Around 950,000 people in the UK are currently living with dementia, and research increasingly shows that music can stimulate memory, communication and emotional wellbeing – something Jewish Care, the largest health and social care charity for the Jewish community in London and the South East, sees first-hand through its weekly programmes.
Over the past year, members of The Sam Beckman Choir have embarked on a remarkable creative journey. The members of the choir are all living in the community with dementia and attend one of Jewish Care’s three specialist dementia day centres.
Together with music and healthcare practitioner Edmund Jeffrey, they have written, composed and now professionally recorded their own original song. The lyrics, melody, and memories woven into music, demonstrate how tailored person-centred support can unlock confidence, identity and connection.
Through their weekly music sessions, choir members have developed the song from initial ideas to finished composition, writing a line each week for the past year before stepping into a professional recording studio to bring it to life.
Choir member, Ros, says, “It’s a lovely song. We have spent a long time working on it – weeks and weeks! I’m very impressed with how it’s turned out.”
Viv, another choir member, adds, “It has real feeling in it. We went over every single word and kept changing bits until it was perfect.”
Music and healthcare practitioner, Edmund Jeffrey, who works with the choir, shares, “One of my wishes was for one of my singing groups to go on the full creative journey with me – writing a song, going into a studio and recording it and then releasing it. And until this year that simply hadn’t been possible.”
The recording was produced by Safo Music Group. Founder Laurence Hobbs shares, “It was inspiring to see how music bought everyone together during the recording of ‘A New Beginning’ – a truly memorable session.”
To support the choir you can stream ‘A New Beginning’ click here – Every stream and download raises money for Jewish Care, helping us continue supporting people living with dementia and their families.
The award-winning Sam Beckman Choir recently participated in Jewish Care’s annual Singing for Joy competition with seven music and singing groups from across the charity’s community services. Now in its second year, the competition includes renowned choirmaster and broadcaster, Gareth Malone OBE from The Choir as one of the judges, alongside Jewish Care’s Chief Executive Daniel Carmel-Brown and Jewish Care’s Head of Community Services and Volunteering, Clare Leahy.
This event highlights the charity’s commitment to creative, person-centred dementia care, creating spaces where people living with dementia can reconnect with confidence and community. It was attended by dementia choirs from Jewish Care’s three specialist day centres, Singing for Memory groups. In addition, the charity runs and supports Memory Way Cafés and provides dementia awareness training to create dementia-friendly inclusive communities.
Talking about the music groups, Gareth Malone said, “people coming together at any age and singing together and being part of a community. We all need that. It gives us hope. When you are living with dementia, singing is one of the few tools we have to help us retain our feelings, our emotions and our personality. I think it is the closest thing to magic.”
Jewish Care CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown added, “When I think about Jewish Care and what we do, so much of it is about connecting people to each other, combating loneliness and isolation no matter what the challenge is. It is clear to us that using music and song creates meaningful engagement and improves the quality of life for individuals living with dementia.”
Tanya Miller, Community Hub Manager and Dementia Lead for Community Services at Jewish Care, who had the idea for the single, said, “This project truly reflects the unique and innovative ways we support people living with dementia in the community and the dedication, creativity and compassion that our teams bring to their roles every single day. It is so important for people living with dementia to express themselves, feel comfortable to try something new or step out of their comfort zone, all whilst being supported to do so. We are so excited to hear the finished single. It is a huge accomplishment and a reminder of what is possible when people are empowered, encouraged and believed in.”
Jewish Care’s Community Dementia Services Team is the winner of the Dementia Care & Engagement Award at the National Activity Awards 2026 run by NAPA – the National Activity Provider Association, placing Jewish Care among the very best dementia care providers.
The NAPA award, which recognises excellence, innovation and impact in activity provision for people living with dementia. Jewish Care was recognised for its thoughtful, person-centred and creative approach to dementia support across the community. Its Community Dementia Service was commended for its wide-ranging programme of innovative activities that support people living with dementia to stay connected, feel valued and continue experiencing joy, purpose and belonging within a Jewish environment that reflects shared culture, values and identity.
In the 2024/25 financial year alone, Jewish Care’s dementia day centres supported 177 individuals living with dementia, provided respite to 185 carers, and delivered 7,777 visits across its centres.
Dementia care is one of three strategic pillars in Jewish Care’s 2026–2030 strategy, Altogether Stronger, with plans to double the number of people supported through expanded dementia services over the next five years.
As dementia diagnoses continue to rise nationally, Jewish Care’s model demonstrates how specialist, community-based support can help people live well, remain connected and stay as independent as possible.