The Johnstone Song Weavers

The Johnstone Song Weavers project was a dementia-inclusive singing initiative developed by Luminate in 2025.

It brought together a community of singers from across Johnstone, including Singing Buddies from Active Communities, residents of Lancefield Care Home and Adams House, and their dedicated activity leaders and support staff who work alongside them.

The participants spent four weeks sharing songs, stories, and companionship while building confidence and connection through music. These sessions were led by singing leader Bryan Marshall, who has extensive experience of leading dementia-inclusive singing.

In a way that reflects the ethos of the project, the group’s name—the Johnstone Song Weavers—was gifted by one of the participants themselves.

The project culminated in a celebration event in December 2025 at Elderslie Village Hall, where the groups came together to sing songs they’d been learning and enjoying over previous weeks.

This project was created in collaboration with a number of partners, including Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership, ROAR, Active Communities, Crossreach Care, and Lancefield Care Home. Support also came from Elderslie Village Hall and the One Ren team, as well as Engage Renfrewshire and Station Seven.

An evaluation of the project will be shared in early 2026.

You can find out more about the Dementia Inclusive Singing Network on the dedicated website.