It’s official! We’ve got some royally wonderful news to share, and we couldn’t be prouder!
There’s something rather special happening at Dementia Sings Out (DSO), and this time, we’re singing our celebrations from the rooftops!
We’re absolutely delighted to announce that we have received The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2026, the highest award a local volunteer group can receive in the UK!
Known as the MBE for volunteer groups, this prestigious honour celebrates outstanding voluntary service and the extraordinary difference volunteers make in their communities. For our DSO family, it’s a truly special moment and a wonderful recognition of the people who make the magic happen, week after week.
So, dust off those imaginary crowns and join us for a little royal celebration!
So, what exactly is The King’s Award for Voluntary Service?
We’re glad you asked!
Established in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) recognises exceptional volunteer groups whose dedication makes a lasting difference to their communities.
Previously known as The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, recipients are announced each year on 14 November, The King’s birthday, and the honour is held for life.
It’s a tremendous honour, and one that our DSO family will treasure for years to come!
Recognition fit for a King!
As part of the award assessment, DSO was praised for its commitment to the community, its welcoming and accessible approach and the extraordinary dedication of its volunteers.
Peter Bason MBE, an assessor for The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, commented:
“The impact achieved through its volunteer-led model is outstanding. The structured use of singing as a therapeutic tool delivers consistent wellbeing benefits, restores confidence and reduces isolation for people living with dementia, while providing meaningful peer support for carers.”
Peter Bason MBE, King’s Award for Voluntary Service assessor
And while we’re enormously proud of our royal honour, we promise not to let it go to our heads. Although we can’t guarantee there won’t be a crown or two making an appearance at choir!
The wonderful people behind the DSO magic
Every week, something wonderful happens when our DSO family comes together. There’s singing, laughter, friendship, plenty of dancing and, of course, tea and cake!
But behind all the music and merriment is something much more meaningful.
DSO brings people living with dementia, their carers and loved ones together through the joy of music, creating a welcoming space where everyone feels they belong.
At the heart of it all are our wonderful volunteers, whose time, energy and kindness fill every session with warmth, friendship and that unmistakable DSO magic. We’re absolutely delighted that this magic, and the people behind it, have received the royal recognition they so thoroughly deserve.
Garry Bowe, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Dementia Sings Out, said:
“We are absolutely delighted! This award means the world to us because it’s a celebration of the incredible people who make DSO what it is. Our volunteers are the heart and soul of this charity. They give their time so generously, but it’s their warmth, kindness and genuine care for every person who walks through our doors that makes DSO so special.
“We often talk about the DSO magic, and it’s hard to put into words until you experience it. It’s the smiles, the laughter, the friendships and those wonderful moments when music reaches someone in a way that words sometimes can’t. We’re one big family, and we couldn’t be prouder!”
The DSO magic: more than just a singalong
If you’ve ever joined one of our sessions, you’ll know that DSO is about so much more than singing. We certainly love a good tune, but it’s the smiles, friendships and unexpected moments of joy that make our choir so special.
Music has an extraordinary ability to reach people, even when dementia makes other forms of communication difficult.
We’ve witnessed some truly remarkable moments, including a care home resident who had been assessed as non-verbal for more than three months, yet began singing within minutes of engaging with music.
One carer also shared the difference DSO made to her mum:
“What I love about Thursday mornings is that I get my mother back for an hour.”
It’s moments like these that remind us just how powerful music, friendship and a sense of belonging can be.
A local choir making a big difference
We might be a local charity, but we certainly know how to make some noise!
In 2025 alone, our Wellingborough sessions recorded 6,112 in-person attendances and another 2,950 via Zoom, with more than 1,000 songs sung and 48 of our much-loved ‘love trains’!
Behind the scenes, our volunteers generously gave over 3,000 hours of their time, helping us keep our sessions free and the music playing.
And the good news doesn’t stop there! With our new Northampton sessions, we’re spreading the joy of music to even more people living with dementia and their carers.
To our incredible volunteers, trustees, Music Directors, singers, carers, supporters and friends, thank you for everything you do. Every helping hand, every kind word and every note sung has helped make DSO what it is today.
This royal honour belongs to all of you!
Help us keep the DSO magic alive!
Our royal celebrations might be in full swing, but there’s still so much more we’d love to do! With your help, we can bring music, friendship and joy to even more people living with dementia and their carers.
- Stay in tune! Sign up to our mailing list, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and help spread the word about our wonderful DSO family
- Support our work! Every donation helps us keep our sessions free and the music playing
- Come and sing with us! Join one of our friendly sessions in Wellingborough or Northampton and experience the DSO magic for yourself
Fancy getting involved?
We’d love to hear from you! Simply complete our short form below and let us know how you’d like to be part of the DSO magic. We’ll take it from there!
