Arts & Culture
Songs & Scones at Hucknall Library
Who doesn’t love a cup of tea, a lovely scone and some social music-making?
Published 12th May 2025
Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries, who run libraries of behalf of Nottinghamshire County Council, invite local residents to enjoy an uplifting afternoon of music, conversation and cake at Hucknall Library on Wednesday 14 May, as part of the launch of its new Songs and Scones events series – and the first session is completely free.
Guests at this special event will be treated to a live performance by harpist Ruth Lee, alongside a warm welcome, a cup of tea or coffee, and of course a delicious scone.
Songs and Scones is part of Healthier Happier Connected Creative, a two-year programme supported by public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England. The programme brings monthly music, arts and wellbeing activities to Hucknall and Retford libraries, developed for older adults and particularly those experiencing memory loss or dementia. They also welcome their families, carers, and anyone at risk of social isolation. Over the next two years, 48 concerts will take place focusing on music as a tool for wellbeing. These performances will bring live music, nostalgia, community and joy to older people who may otherwise find it difficult to access culture and music events, sparking memories and sparking joy in the process.
The second strand of the Healthier Happier Connected Creative programme is Connect & Create, which involves unleashing creativity through the artistic process. 48 creative wellbeing workshops will be delivered with commissioned artists, focusing on the joy of creation rather than on perfecting a finished piece. Through art and creation, artists will encourage collaboration and community, and invite people to just enjoy the process, because who says kids get to have all the fun?
The third strand of the Healthier Happier Connected Creative programme is Mind & Movement, which will concentrate on promoting health and wellbeing through physical activity and accessible health information and support, for a fun, gentle way to stay active and social. Inspire’s partners at Your Health Notts will deliver opportunities for socialising, exercise and age-relevant health information. It’s a great way to keep moving, meet others, and boost your wellbeing – all in a warm, welcoming space.
Valuing the health and wellbeing of older people in Nottinghamshire is an important step in itself and Inspire and its partners hope that providing these workshops and offering age-related health support will build confidence and break down barriers, facilitating older people’s participation in arts, music and cultural events.
"Inspire is excited to host accessible community and wellbeing
events at Hucknall and Retford Libraries. We are grateful to Arts Council
England for funding this important programme, and we’re looking forward to
working with independent artists alongside our incredible partners at Live
Music Now and Your Health Notts to bring joy to people who may feel isolated
within their communities. Inspire is always keen to include all of
Nottinghamshire's residents in arts and culture, and this project ensures that
there's no limit to those who can be inspired by what we have to offer."
Find out more about the Healthier Happier
Connected Creative programme here.
