Entertainer Lindey O'Neill is offering to sing for free at care homes in and around Scarborough

The 48-year-old singer and mum-of-one is coping with the break-up of a relationship, the loss of her singing career and a diagnosis of ADHD and dyslexia.

Rather than feel sorry for herself, she and her eight-year-old son Logan have moved into a new flat in Scarborough’s South Cliff, she has enrolled on a foundation course in health and care at CU Scarborough, and taken up photography.

She is also singing, for free, in care/residential homes, including Holt Retirement Home in Hutton Buscel, and wants to expand that.

“I give my services for an hour each Wednesday for free. I am singing, hanging out with the residents and healing myself,” said Lindey.

“If I have an impact on the residents’ lives just for an hour, that is my reward,” she said.

“It makes me feel good, I need to do it for me. I have not got much, I am starting again.

"I don’t want money for it, I am doing it for them and giving myself something that is going to keep me occupied during what I am going through.”

Hull-born Lindey has been in the entertainment business for 20 years and had a full-booked diary until the Covid pandemic hit in March four years ago.

“I lost everything,” she said.

She worked for a year as activities co-ordinator at St Celicia’s Nursing Home in Scarborough – putting on, among other things Greek and Italian-themed parties, and realised she had a rapport with older people.

Lindey was close to her grandmother, who died three years ago, and credits that relationship with helping her bond with an older generation.

“She was my mate, a big part of my life and I talked about her at gigs. She was always telling funny stories.”

During her career, Lindey worked on cruise ships for three years as well as singing and hosting karaoke at a wealth of venues and events.

She has a residency at Whitby Way each Friday and will perform at Scarborough Pride in September.

Care homes which would like to contact Lindey should email her at [email protected]