Seniors and students sang together as part of a collaboration between the Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning and Compassionate Care Partners.

Hayley Cann, a music therapist, led a combination of BCCL students and seniors through a series of songs from Bob Marley, Harry Belafonte and others yesterday as part of the session, intended to build connections between the different groups.

Ms Cann said: “What we are doing is bridging gaps between them and bringing them together.

“They have never had music at BCCL before and some of our seniors are socially isolated. They don’t get out much or they are struggling in other ways with different challenges.”

She said that as well as benefiting the seniors, music was a valuable educational tool for teaching young people how to collaborate and express themselves.

Ms Cann said: “As we grow older, some things like the confidence we have when we are young fade away.

“Very, very little children can do it so easily, but when we are in primary school and middle school we can get a little self conscious.

“We get all of those emotional struggles that we deal with but music is a good format for them to express themselves and let some of that go.”

Lindsey Sirju, a BCCL cofounder and deputy head of school, said that the collaboration between the school and CCP was intended to help rebuild connections that had faded as multigenerational homes became less common.

She said: “These programmes are really impactful because our community, like communities around the world, are moving further and further away from intergenerational connection.

“We have a loneliness epidemic and a mental health epidemic for both seniors and for young people.

“By having these sessions we are increasing compassion; we are increasing perspective; we are increasing empathy; we are helping mental health; and we are decreasing loneliness.”

Jennifer Mahoney, the executive director of CCP, said intergenerational programming had been shown to improve the quality of life of everyone involved, building connections, understanding and appreciation.

She said: “This cohort is one of several planned for 2026 and we are thrilled to be partnering with an organisation as forward thinking and impactful as BCCL.”