Music Sessions Return for 400 Seniors in South Queensferry

Older adults in South Queensferry will soon gather again for music sessions that bring joy, connection, and relief from loneliness, thanks to an unexpected gift from a local housing project.

Cala Homes (East) donated £2,500 to Manor Estates Housing Association after completing 25 affordable rental homes at Queensferry Heights. The housing association directed the full amount to Queensferry Churches Care in the Community (QCCC), which had been forced to scale back its popular music programs due to tight finances.

QCCC supports around 400 older people each year across South Queensferry and nearby communities. Their music sessions do more than entertain. They stimulate memory, boost emotional wellbeing, and create vital social connections for people who might otherwise spend days alone.

The donation came as part of a community benefit agreement tied to the housing development. Derek Lawson from Cala Homes said the company believes building homes means building community, not just constructing walls and roofs.

The Ripple Effect

This donation represents a growing trend where developers recognize their responsibility extends beyond construction sites. When companies invest in the communities where they build, everyone benefits.

The 25 new affordable homes address South Queensferry's urgent need for quality housing. Combined with QCCC's services, the project tackles two critical challenges facing older adults: finding secure housing and staying connected to their communities.

Claire Ironside, CEO of Manor Estates Housing Association, praised the partnership for showing what's possible when organizations work together. The completed homes meet consistently high standards, and now the donation ensures existing residents can maintain the social connections that make a house feel like home.

For the seniors waiting to return to their music sessions, the donation means something simple but profound: regular gatherings where familiar faces share songs, laughter, and the comfort of knowing they're not alone.