Robin is Charity Champion!

MiHC local ambassador Robin Barr has been recognised for his 40 years of service at the annual ScottishPower Foundation Awards, winning a £5,000 prize for the organisation’s work in the UK!

Over the past 40 years Robin has worked tirelessly to support the charity, using his experience as a music tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to mentor new musicians joining the MiHC community. He has also given over 100 talks to local community groups and organised numerous fundraising activities that have raised tens of thousands of pounds towards live music sessions across Scotland.

In 2018 his most recent challenge, ‘Fit as a Fiddle’, saw him at the age of 77 conquer seven hills in the farthest reaches of Orkney, playing and composing fiddle tunes along the way. Through his fundraising efforts, he generated attention from Scottish newspapers, TV, radio channels and across social media, raising significant awareness for MiHC. By the end of the challenge he had raised £5,000 in celebration of the charity’s 70^th anniversary.

Barbara Osborne, Chief Executive at Music in Hospitals & Care, said: “Robin has been a loyal ambassador of the charity for nearly 40 years. We are delighted he has been recognised in this year’s ScottishPower Foundation Awards; he is a wholly committed individual with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for championing our mission to bring the joy of live music to people of all ages in a wide range of healthcare settings”.

“We are so grateful to have him not only as a dedicated supporter but a kind and thoughtful human being. His infectious spirit is a beacon for others to support us and embodies the very essence of what it means to be a Charity Champion.”

In March, the ScottishPower Foundation announced a £1.25M funding pot spread out to organisations across the UK including Music in Hospitals & Care, offering initiatives in health, science, education and the arts. The annual awards ceremony showcases the work taking place in local communities with four winners receiving £5,000 and four runners-up receiving £2,500.

The additional £5,000 presented to Music in Hospitals & Care in recognition of Robin’s dedication will go towards the delivery of additional live music sessions in the Northern Isles, reaching around 250 beneficiaries close to Robin’s hometown with a focus on folk and fiddle tunes.

Melanie Hill, Executive Officer and Trustee at ScottishPower Foundation, added: “Music in Hospitals & Care’s entry on behalf of Robin really stood out to us not only because of his commitment to the charity but also his dedication to supporting the next generation of musicians who are so important to the work it does.

“In March, we revealed our £1.25M funding programme to show our support for third sector organisations in local communities across the UK. Our annual awards ceremony is an opportunity to join like-minded individuals together and showcase the incredible work they do. It is fantastic to see and hear about the impact they have on people’s lives.”