Music for Dementia

464,000 set for Thank You Day sing-along

Millions are preparing for the third national Thank You Day on 2nd July. Organisers are planning a mass national sing-a-long set to soar well above the current UK record:

  • Over 464,000 have already signed up to say thank you through music, and sing ‘Thank You For Being a Friend’  on Sunday 2 July – the current UK record is 293,000.
  • Carers representing the unsung heroes across the UK have joined Tony Christie in re-recording the single
  • Thank You Day 2022 saw more than 9 million people take part in events across the country

Singing legend, Tony Christie (80), has issued a rallying cry for the nation to learn and practice this year’s Thank You Day song, ‘Thank You for Being a Friend’, ahead of a mass singalong at 3pm on Sunday 2 July.

More than 450,000 are already set to take part through the Girl Guides, Women’s Institute, Asda, Young Voices, community dementia choirs and 4,000 Care homes as part of Care Home Open Week.

To get involved you can download the backing track and sheet music now for free on the Thank You Day website , thanks to printed music publisher Hal Leonard, and also available from Sheet Music Direct.

Christie, who announced his dementia diagnosis earlier this year, has rerecorded the 1978 classic with 5 carers (and some special friends to be revealed later in the month)

Christie  is now urging the public to really let loose on Thank You Day and belt out the anthem. He said:

“There’s only one month to go, so print off the sheet music, download the backing track, learn the song and then sing your heart out wherever you may be on Sunday 2 July. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a church, at a festival, at a picnic in the park, in your bedroom on TikTok or you host an event yourself at the park or in the pub. All that matters is that you’re part of something big and special that celebrates all the diverse people and communities that make the UK great, and gives special recognition to the brilliant carers in it.”

Music for Dementia, founded and funded by The Utley Foundation, is leading the Thank You Day 2023 music activities.  Managing Director, Sarah Metcalfe,  said:

“The stories of the carers singing with Tony on the record show powerfully how music can become a lifeline for people living with dementia and their families. Thank You Day is a chance for everyone to say Thank You For Being A Friend to someone special.

Let’s make Thank You Day the biggest singalong ever! Get ready by visiting the website to download the lyrics, sheet music and backing track for free. And dementia choirs and care homes can sign up on the Music for Dementia website for a free activity pack – including kazoos!”

To register your interest or simply find out more about Thank You Day and the wider ways you can get involved visit https://thankyouday.org.uk/music/.