A weekly music cafe for people living with dementia and their carers has launched in Bury.

The free music therapy cafe, where people are invited to play a range of percussion instruments, had its first session at Age UK’s Jubilee Centre on Tuesday, October 15.

Its aim is to help people living with dementia communicate better while improving their general well-being.

The session forms part of chamber orchestra Manchester Camerata's "Music in Mind" programme which secured more than £1m in funding in May to bring the programme to all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester and launch the UK's first Centre of Excellence for Music and Dementia.

Principal percussion with Music in Mind, Janet Fulton, said: “Witnessing first-hand the impact and pure joy that our wonderful participants experience through them leading our musical interaction with instruments, gestures and sounds, is a real privilege.

“To see their carers visibly relax during these sessions and help them reconnect with their loved ones and residents through music is an incredible honour and such a special opportunity as a musician.”

The session in Bury has capacity for 25 people including carers and will run on a weekly basis for an initial first year.

Doors will open at the Jubilee Centre every Tuesday at 3pm with tea and coffee available followed by an hour-long music session from 3.30pm, led by the orchestra and the centre’s newly trained "music champions", who will assist in the delivery of sessions.

Chief executive of Age UK Bury, Ania Stark-Ketcher, added: “Events like this are a massive help for people living with dementia and their carers, and if it can give just a little bit back to that individual then that’s great.

“We have a choir here at the centre and some people have dementia so they will be coming to this cafe because they sing and this will be slightly different because they’ll be playing musical instruments."

Along with Music in Mind, the Alzheimer’s Society also plan to upscale their weekly singing sessions across Greater Manchester and the programme and charity plan to collaborate with the NHS and the University of Manchester to research the impact of music on people living with dementia.